Afghanistan Times
Related Articles
AT News Report
KABUL: Former and current Presidents, Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani and other influential figures, including Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah on Saturday held discussions over current peace efforts, where Hamid Karzai said opportunity for peace must not go away.
Other participants were former Jihadi leader Abdul RabRasul Sayyaf, the Second Vice President Sarwar Danish and the Head of High Peace Council Mohammad Karim Khalili.
During meeting, they discussed in detailed the ongoing peace efforts, and said to achieve durable peace in the country, maximum benefit should be taken from current peace opportunity.
Soon after meeting, President Ashraf Ghani in a tweet message said he had a constructive meeting with prominent political leaders.
“I had a constructive meeting with prominent political leaders. In order to reach a unified stance on the peace process, I will continue the consultation with other politicians and representatives of all walks of life with earnest,” the president tweeted.
The high-level meeting took place at a time when next round of intra-Afghan talks is scheduled in mid-April in Qatar. The first round of took place in Moscow, where both sides—Afghan influential figuresand Taliban negotiating members, for the first time came under one roof to mend differences that prolonging war in Afghanistan.
The national unity government time and again tried to sabotage peace efforts, especially after Afghan leaders, who are out of government, held talks with Taliban in Russia.
The process of peace negotiations has been dominating the political space for more than six months, with political figures and parties making efforts to play a role in the negotiations on behalf of the people of Afghanistan.
But what seems to be hindering before the peace process, is a political game played by the government, which tries to manage this national process in its own interests and for its survival.
A prominent politician Mr. Daud Ali Najafiin an inclusive interview with Afghanistan Times has recently said the country’s political situation is very sensitive, calling on the political leaders to get a great national consensus and understanding. “Otherwise, our people and political system will suffer a great loss.”
“The government unfortunately has not realized its duty and responsibility regarding peace. Thus, the government itself is the main obstacle before peace process,” Najafi said, adding that the government thinks it will no longer survive if peace is achieved and that it will lose its five-year power.
