Afghanistan Times
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AT-KABUL: The government of Afghanistan says it was optimistic to the current regional and international efforts regarding the peace process, despite calling the process as “bumpy”.
Feraidoon Khwazoon, a spokesman for the chief executive emphasized Tuesday that Afghanistan was the only authorized in decision making, and no other nation could “replace”.
“The government of Afghanistan is optimistic that the ongoing efforts by regional countries and the United States can get a consequence and these efforts will take us closer to peace. Obviously this is a prolonged process with long discussions, but we hope to reach the peace,” said Khwazoon.
The government of Afghanistan along with several other regional and international countries has been engaged in the peace process. The United States, Russian Federation, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and even Turkey are making efforts to help Afghanistan reach a sustainable peace. But such efforts in the past have successes or failed.
Taliban’s refusal of meeting Afghan government representatives in the last month’s Abu Dhabi session, cancelling of the expecting Jeddah meeting by the militants and distrust to Pakistan’s honesty in helping the peace process have been called as the matters that would likely lead the process towards failure.
But recently, Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani reported of his country’s contacts with Taliban officials, saying that the insurgents were ready to lay weapons down and join the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace talks. But the militants have frequently rejected any dialogues with the government of Afghanistan, urging that they would only hold talks with the US diplomats.
Separately, Umer Daudzai, head of the High Peace Council’s secretariat flew Tuesday to Islamabad for a four-day trip with what was announced “coordinating efforts of the regional countries” regarding Afghan peace.
However, some media outlets released a document that was called peace agreement among the governments of Afghanistan and the United States and the Taliban. The 50-page document reads that after a national ceasefire, an interim administration should be formed to work on some changes such as amendments in the constitution and reviewing governance.
Sayed Ali Kazemi, a member of parliament offered optimism over the peace efforts, but emphasized no agreement should be kept secret from the people of Afghanistan.
“The government needs to clarify where this document was signed, and that did it agree with the that? People should be informed. I hope the documents that are signed behind the curtain do not ignore the Afghan people’s viewpoints,” Kazemi said.
