KABUL - Members of the Afghan government's delegation for peace negotiations with the Taliban on Friday reassured that the death of Mullah Omar would not negatively impact the talks, a hopeful outlook that has been echoed by independent analysts.
Mohammad Natiqi, a member of the first government delegation sent to Islamabad to meet with Taliban leaders earlier this month, emphasized that the new leadership of the Taliban, especially Mullah Akhtar Mansour, who was reportedly appointed Mullah Omar's successor, is willing and ready for peace talks.
"I believe the death of Mullah Omar will not affect the peace talks, because the delegation we had for the first round of peace talks was appointed by Mullah Akhtar and Mullah Akhtar was leading the delegation," Natiqi said on Friday. "I think Mullah Akhtar is willing to continue peace talks."
On Thursday, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) announced that the second round of talks originally scheduled to take place on Friday would be postponed at the request of the Taliban. Although the statement did not go into detail, it came right after news of Mullah Omar's death was confirmed by Taliban spokesman, indicating a likely connection between the sudden shake up in leadership and the postponement.
Earlier this week, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and officials from the National Directorate of Security claimed that the reclusive former Taliban chief had in fact died two years ago, in 2013, at a hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. While, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid confirmed the death of Omar, he suggested it occurred more recently.
Looking ahead, while government peace delegation members remain optimistic about the future of talks, the High Peace Council has said it unclear when and where the second round will take place. "After the Taliban determine their new leader, it will be made clear when and where the second round of peace talks will be held," HPC member Qazi Mohammad Amin Waqad said.
Nevertheless, interviews with former Taliban commanders and experts on the group have lent credence to to the claims of negotiators regarding the likelihood of continued talks. "I think there are lots of people among the Taliban who are in favor of peace talks and the death of Mullah Omar won't affect peace talks," former Taliban commander Syed Akbar Agha told TOLOnews.
According to Pakistani political analyst, Kahlid Rehman, Islamabad and all the key stakeholders within Pakistan are still on board with the peace process regardless of the death of Mullah Omar. "Pakistan's government, the Pakistani armed forces, Pakistani political parties, Pakistani public opinion and Pakistani opinion makers all are on the same page, and every one of them is interested in negotiations taking place and finally leading toward stability in Afghanistan," Pakistan Institute of Policy Studies Director General Khalid Rehman said. "So, on the part of the government of Pakistan, I don't think there is any chance of withdrawing from the process at this stage." (Tolonews)