Despite being labeled as informal, the recent peace talks between Taliban and Afghan government representatives in Qatar effectively marked the beginning of what was long expected to resume for exploring possible ways for peace in Afghanistan. The talks yielded no results at this point, as it was not expected to; however, as the government of Afghanistan expected, it might help thawing the ice that barred both sides entering peace talks as they used to set preconditions for resumption of peace negotiations. According to the reports, the participants were seen jubilant while leaving from the venue of the preliminary discussions hosted by Qatar foreign ministry and held in the Al-Khor seaside town.

According to the reports, the Taliban have made a number of demands in the discussions as well as in a statement published afterwards. In the statement, the Taliban have asked opening of a political office through which the Taliban can go to negotiations and be in contact to the media and explain their stance on ongoing peace and war affairs. The group also has reiterated that they would continue the deadly insurgency until US-led foreign forces leave Afghanistan. The demands raised in the statement prove reaching a concrete deal with the militants would not be an easy task as the US troops remain in Afghanistan for the coming years. It also outlines the Taliban’s approach to any peace talks with the government of Afghanistan that might happen in near future.

Seemingly, the continued presence of foreign troops in the country had been the trickiest issue in the early ‘research discussions’ between Afghan peace negotiators and the Taliban delegation. The reports suggest, the two sides failed to reach an understanding on continued presence of US forces in Afghanistan as the Taliban conditioned a possible ceasefire to immediate and complete withdrawal of foreign troops. This particular issue well heralds the future of the peace efforts and possible negotiations between the government and the Taliban. The Taliban have made it clear that complete withdrawal of foreign forces will remain a key demand of them from the Afghan government and a precondition to any halt of the ongoing bloody war in the country.

This means that it would be quite difficult for the two sides to be able to reach any agreement in the future over a number of tricky issues such as the US withdrawal and the Afghan constitution. The government of Afghanistan has hinted in the past that it was ready to provide the Taliban some political and power shares while strictly sticking to its stance that the constitution and the achievements of the past fourteen years should be preserved. Given the rigid stances of the two sides over women rights, foreign military presence, sharia law and the Afghan constitution, it is quite difficult to foresee a mutually-agreed peace deal in the future. However, as the military stalemate continues, the time will prove how the Taliban would accommodate themselves with their demands and the political concessions that will be proposed for them by the government of Afghanistan.

The recent sudden rise of the Taliban offensive across the country also corroborates the pessimisms that the Taliban may not be willing to come to negotiation table for ending the ongoing conflict. Along with the group coming to Qatar discussions, the militants killed many Afghan security personnel in northern Badakhshan province. In recent weeks, the Taliban have waged a deadly insurgency in various provinces while in some areas they initially had considerable gains. The attacks showed that the Taliban are still determined to wage deadly war and inflict casualties on both security personnel and the civilians. It also underscored how difficult the peace efforts would be and how elusive peace may remain in the future.

The visible disagreement between Taliban and Afghan government delegations over US military presence in Afghanistan was not the only thing that attracted attentions to the gathering in Qatar. The Taliban also suggested some flexibility over a number of issues which stir hopes for many that the group might be willing to enter genuine peace negotiations with the government of Afghanistan and its international supporters such as the United States. The Taliban’s softened language on the relations with outside world, civilian casualties and the involvement of other powers in the Afghan peace process was viewed as an apparent shift from the group’s previous stance. Many hope this could ultimately lead to a real peace talks between the Taliban and the government of Afghanistan.

The group’s tone to foreign stakeholders suggests a considerable shift of the Taliban approach towards the outside world. "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan once again as a policy clearly states that it does not want to harm others and also won't allow anyone to use Afghan soil against others," it said, using the group's formal name. The group suggested it will open to participation and involvement of foreign and regional powers in Afghan peace process, saying it welcomes “the efforts of anyone in bringing peace to Afghanistan." This, however, shows that the group has also an eye to entering peace negotiations provided that their main conditions are met.

The fact should not be ignored that the Taliban have a totally different approach towards the outside world and the regional powers. The Taliban’s message on foreign involvement in the Afghan peace suggests that the Taliban is approaching the outside world, and hopefully the government of Afghanistan, more proactively and through an active involvement and diplomacy. This could be the group’s becoming more pragmatic to the realities on the ground rather than their willing for ending the insurgency and reaching a peace deal. If this is the case, the Taliban may be enter a peace effort led by government of Afghanistan and helped by foreign powers, but the group may not be serious in reaching a genuine peace deal in the country. The Taliban’s determination for peace can be tested only when the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban start formal negotiations.

However, the recent peace discussions in Qatar can be viewed as a minor breakthrough. And this is quite enough to remain optimistic for the Taliban, or at least some parts of the group, to seek peace in the country. The two sides have traded smiles in the meeting, and this may a lot for the two sides who have abstained to sit face to face in last fourteen years.