DOHA, Qatar – Addressing an apparent deadlock to the ongoing peace talks between the negotiators in Qatari capital Doha, Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem says they do not feel the need for a mediator, rather needs patience to push through the process.
Naeem’s remarks came at a time the United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad arrived in Doha to “meet with partners on Afghan-owned, Afghan-led peace negotiations.”
Amid struggles for Afghan representatives and the Taliban delegation on procedural rules, both sides seem to not welcome mediator, prolonging the official face-to-face talks between Afghans.
“If we hurry and expect to resolve all the issues in 20 days or a month, I think this will not bring us to our objectives,” said Naeem, as TOLOnews quoted. “We will not allow anyone to interfere in our internal affairs.”
Meanwhile, US embassy in Kabul said neither the US nor its allies are willing to impose their solutions on Afghans.
“This is up to the parties to decide, we and others stand ready to help, we are not interested in imposing a solution or imposing ourselves in the process, but supporting what the parties at the negotiating table feel they need,” said Ross Wilson, the US embassy’s chargé d’affaires.
Since the official launch of intra-Afghan talks on September 12 in Doha, the contact groups have discussed the ground rules for talks in a series of meetings, but failed to finalize. (KHAAMA PRESS)