Afghanistan Times
Related Articles
AT News Report
KABUL: The former National Security Advisor and current presidential candidate, Haneef Atmar on Monday expressed optimistic in the prospects of a negotiated peace talks with the Taliban held recently in Moscow.
While meeting U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, John Bass and the Commander of U.S. Forces (Resolute Support) General Austin Scott Miller at his office in Kabul, he expressed optimism about peace talks, his office said in a statement.
Atmar pointed out that these talks between the Afghan delegation and the Taliban are the first of their kind as both parties had a very similar viewpoint about reaching a unanimous decision on ending the conflict in Afghanistan.
In separate meetings, Atmar met with Ambassadors of the European Union member countries in Afghanistan. Both sides discussed the contents of the Moscow summit and the advancement of intra-Afghan peace negotiations.
Atmar and the EU member country Ambassador in Afghanistan also discussed in full the upcoming presidential elections, the challenges coupled with it and peace opportunities ahead. Both sides shared a common, unanimous hope for the future of Afghanistan.
Moscow talks were held between the Afghan politicians and Taliban for two days in absence of the Afghan government.
Some participants of the Moscow talks, which were held on February 5 and 6 between Afghan politicians and Taliban representatives, said they found that Taliban had a “strong will” for ending the war and that the issue of establishing an interim government in Afghanistan was not a topic of discussion in the meeting.
One participant of the meeting said the issue of establishing an interim government was raised only by former Balkh governor Atta Mohammad Noor.
“Afghan women should oversee (the peace process) to ensure Taliban has received Afghan women and people’s message and the message is that we will not go back,” said MP Fawzia Kofi has recently said.
