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| Afghanistan |
| Afghan govt, Taliban direct talks likely by first week of March |
| 2016-02-24 |
| [Khaama (Afghanistan)] The first round of direct peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban groups is expected to be held in the first week of March. The participants of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) meeting issued a joint statement following the conclusion of the fourth round of the meeting in Kabul ...the capital of Afghanistan. Home to continuous fighting from 1992 to 1996 between the forces of would-be strongman and Pak ISI/Jamaat-e-Islami sock puppet Gulbuddin Hekmayar and the Northern Alliance, a period which won Hek the title Most Evil Man in the Worldand didn't do much for the reputations of the Northern Alliance guys either.... today. "The QCG member states invite all Taliban and other groups to participate through their authorized representatives in the first round of direct peace talks with the Afghan government expected to take place by the first week of March 2016," the statement said. Pakistain has graciously offered to host the first round of direct peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban groups, the statement said, adding that the fifth round of the QCG meeting will take place in Islamabad immediately after the first round of direct peace talks. The delegations were led by Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai, Pakistain's Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing and U.S. Charge d'Affaires, David Lindwall. The statement also added that the "QCG members welcomed the strong statement by H.E. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani ...former chancellor of Kabul University, now president of Afghanistan. Before returning to Afghanistan in 2002 he was a scholar of political science and anthropology. He worked at the World Bank working on international development assistance. As Finance Minister of Afghanistan between July 2002 and December 2004, he led Afghanistan's attempted economic recovery until the Karzais stole all the money. .. , President of the Islamic Theocratic Republicof Afghanistan, on 15 February in which he once again underlined the strong commitment of the Government of Afghanistan for peace and reconciliation with Taliban groups and Hezbi Islami Hekmatyar, the support of the Afghan nation for this national priority and his call on the Taliban and other groups to join early direct talks with the Government of Afghanistan." The QCG also welcomed the decision by Afghanistan and Pakistain to constitute a bilateral joint working group to work with the honorable Ulema of Afghanistan and Pakistain for their support to the Afghan led and Afghan owned peace and reconciliation process, including through Fatwas against the ongoing senseless violence, the statement said. |
| Posted by:Fred |