The Afghan government has had no achievement in nudging the Taliban leadership into peace talks despite creating much fuss from time to time. President Hamid Karzai termed them his ‘annoyed brothers,’ provided their fighters with monetary rewards and his government released thousands of Taliban prisoners from Bagram detention center and other prisoners in Afghanistan. However, the Taliban have been calling him toothless and a puppet of the west.  In an exclusive interview to a local newspaper Taliban’s spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said there was no possibility of peace talks with the Afghan government as it was illegitimate and controlled by foreign countries. “These people [Afghan government authorities] are influenced, appointed and funded by them [the foreigners]. Negotiating with them is a waste of time, meaningless and we will not be able to achieve our objectives,” Mujahidsaid in the interview published by Daily Open Society on May 5.

The Karzai administration established High Peace Council (HPC) back in 2010 and charged it the duty of finding out ways of negotiations with Taliban in order to put an end to the ongoing conflict in the country. HPC has no laudable achievement at hand, although more than four years of its establishment has passed. In Taliban’s view, the purpose of establishing HPC, as said by Zabihullah Mujahid, is “receiving foreign aids and continuation of these aids.” According to him HPC uselessly gives hope and is involved in improper propagation.    

Zabihullah Mujahid has vowed to continue what he calls a resistance and a jihad “until Afghanistan is free of invading forces.” Based on Mujahid’s interview, one of the Taliban’s pre-conditions for involving in peace talks with the Afghan government is complete withdrawal of international troops from Afghanistan. In other words the Afghan government has to reject receivingaids from the international community which are aimed at supporting, equipping and training Afghan security forces and withdraw itself from the international anti-terrorism campaign in order to please the Taliban. It seems unfeasible for Afghan government to give a green signal to such a demand. So the war will continue as long the Taliban stuck to their impractical conditions.

The sympathies of President Karzai have not brought about any positive change in the mindset of Taliban and the peace process still faces a deadlock. It has to be seen what the new president of Afghanistan will do? Will it continue Mr. Karzai’s path or deal with Taliban with iron hands?