KABUL - The Wolesi Jirga speaker has asked parties involved in the Afghanistan peace talks not to enter a fresh dialogue without public representatives and refrain from any deal that excludes the masses.
Peace talks between the US and the Taliban were suspended one and a half months ago after the rebels attacked a foreign forces convey in Kabul and killed one US service member, two NATO soldiers and some civilians.
US President Donald Trump’s decision to halt peace talks with the Taliban followed the government’s announcement of suspending peace efforts due to elections.
Hopes for peace talks revived when US Special Representative for Peace and Reconciliation Zalmay Kahlilzad again started his journey to some countries.
The Wolesi Jirga or lower house of parliament today (Saturday) discussed efforts being made for peace in the country.
Rehana Azad, a lawmaker from Daikundi province, told the house that peace talks behind closed doors were not acceptable to the Afghans and urged transparency in this regard.
She said the peace process had become an experiment tool for some countries and circles. She said a self-ordained policy should be avoided because the victims of the war were Afghans and the Afghan government and its public representatives should be part of every meeting on peace and reconciliation.
Speaker Mir Rahman Rahmani said: “We support every effort that could ensure peace in the country but every effort that excludes public representatives is unacceptable and not valid.”
He said the government should respect the powers and authorities of all institutions and claimed the unity government was not in a position currently to represent Afghanistan on international forums.
Rahmani said as the Beijing meeting had been delayed, all national and international stakeholders in the peace process should respect public mandate of Afghanistan and not enter any political agreement without the presence of Afghanistan’s public representatives.
An intra-Afghan meeting in China has been delayed for a few days, sources said on Saturday. The intra-Afghan talks were to be hosted by Beijing on October 27 and 28. But US media outlets quoted credible sources as saying the meeting might be postponed.
Kabir Haqmal, spokesman for the National Security Council (NSC), said Beijing, which had organised the meeting, should announce the delay.
He told Pajhwok Afghan News the government would announce a list of Afghan participants at a proper time. (Pajhwok)