Afghan peace talks open with calls for ceasefire, women's rights

[rooster59]

Afghan peace talks open with calls for ceasefire, women's rights

 

A general view shows talks between the Afghan government and Taliban insurgents in Doha, Qatar September 12, 2020. Picture taken with a fish-eye lens. REUTERS/Ibraheem al Omari

 

DOHA (Reuters) - Afghan government representatives and Taliban insurgents gathered on Saturday for historic peace talks aimed at ending two decades of war that has killed tens of thousands of combatants and civilians.

 

Ahead of face-to-face negotiations in coming days, the warring sides were urged by various countries and groups to reach an immediate ceasefire and forge an agreement that upholds women's rights.

 

The government of U.S. President Donald Trump, who is eager to claim an end to America's longest conflict as he seeks re-election, expressed its intention to use aid as leverage for a deal.

 

The opening ceremony came one day after the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the United States that triggered its military involvement in Afghanistan.

 

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged the warring sides to seize the opportunity to strike a comprehensive peace deal, while acknowledging many challenges lay ahead.

 

"The choice of your political system is yours to make," he told the opening ceremony in the Qatari capital Doha. "We believe firmly that protecting the rights of all Afghans is the best way for you to break the cycle of violence."

 

The head of Afghanistan's peace council, Abdullah Abdullah, said that even if the two sides could not agree on all points, they should compromise.

 

"My delegation are in Doha representing a political system that is supported by millions of men and women from a diversity of cultural, social and ethnic backgrounds in our homeland," he said.

 

Taliban leader Mullah Baradar Akhund said that Afghanistan should "have an Islamic system in which all tribes and ethnicities of the country find themselves without any discrimination and live their lives in love and brotherhood."

 

Pompeo warned that the size and scope of future U.S. financial assistance to the country, which relies heavily on international funding, would depend on their "choices and conduct".

 

U.S. Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad told reporters that preventing terrorism was the chief condition but that protecting minority and women's rights would also influence any future decisions on Congress-allocated funding. "There is no blank check."

 

Officials, diplomats and analysts say that although getting both sides to the negotiating table was a major achievement, this does not mean the path to peace will be easy, especially with violence increasing around the country.

 

CEASEFIRE CONDITIONS

 

Afghanistan government and Taliban representatives met after the opening ceremony to discuss how negotiations would proceed, officials said.

 

Achieving a significant reduction in violence and how to get to a permanent ceasefire would be among the first issues the sides would discuss when they meet on Sunday, Abdullah told Reuters.

 

How to include the Taliban, who have rejected the legitimacy of the Western-backed Afghan government, in any governing arrangement and how to safeguard the rights of women and minorities who suffered under Taliban rule are also big challenges.

 

"The Afghan people must be at the heart of this peace process...that leaves no one behind, including women," said Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

 

Pompeo noted the four women negotiators among the Afghan delegation, saying they exemplified the gains in Afghanistan of female participation in public life. He urged that the country's social advances be protected.

 

Watching on television in the Afghan capital Kabul, teacher Pariwash Farkish said that although she had witnessed violent blasts and peace talks were very important to her, she harboured concerns.

 

"While I was watching the ceremony today, I saw there were no woman among the Taliban, and that worried me," she said.

 

Then-president George W. Bush sent U.S. forces into Afghanistan a month after the 9/11 attacks to hunt down their mastermind, Osama bin Laden, a Saudi given sanctuary by the country's Islamist Taliban rulers.

 

Although the Taliban regime was quickly toppled, they regrouped and have since waged an insurgency that has sucked in Afghanistan's neighbours and troops from dozens of countries, including NATO forces.

 

Negotiations to broker a comprehensive peace deal were a component of a troop withdrawal pact signed between the United States and the Taliban in February. After months of delay, a dispute over the Taliban's demand for the release of 5,000 prisoners was resolved this week.

 

Ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November where he lags in the polls, Trump is looking to show progress on his pledge to end America's involvement in Afghanistan.

 

(Reporting by Kabul, Islamabad and Dubai bureaus; Writing by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Angus MacSwan, William Mallard and Christina Fincher)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-09-13

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[Tug]

I’m sure they will take the hand out then continue to kill each other women’s rights that’s a laugh I wonder what this photo op is going to cost us aren’t the taliban the ones getting a bounty for killing Americans?and here’s a thought what’s going to happen to the folks that helped us over there........have any planning or provisions been made for them?knowing this administration I doubt it another fiasco in the making imo

[bendejo]

What about that well-worn Republican bs trope "we don't negotiate with terrorists" ?

They said it often enough when Obama attempted talks with Iran, so don't tell me they forgot.

 

 

[otherstuff1957]

Well, if you are an Afghan woman it is probably time to figure out what country you should immigrate to.  Odds are they will be back in their burkas soon! ☹️

[TopDeadSenter]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

The government of U.S. President Donald Trump, who is eager to claim an end to America's longest conflict as he seeks re-election, expressed its intention to use aid as leverage for a deal.

Sounds like another quid-pro-quo. Trump should know after the impeachment fiasco that using aid to try and better peoples rights and lives in the country receiving the aid, is a big no no. Aid is a gift, and not something to be used to help women have rights. I expect without any control over how the money is used it will end up buying toys for the dictators and juntas. Anything is better than another quid pro quo.

[sanuk711]

41 minutes ago, Tug said:

here’s a thought what’s going to happen to the folks that helped us over there........have any planning or provisions been made for them?knowing this administration I doubt it another fiasco in the making imo

I think the same as what happened to all the the people that helped the USA out in Vietnam--- If you cant get on the last helicopter leaving, then take up the Yoga stance, leaning forward as far as possible and kissing your A$$ goodbye. 

[Tug]

56 minutes ago, sanuk711 said:

I think the same as what happened to all the the people that helped the USA out in Vietnam--- If you cant get on the last helicopter leaving, then take up the Yoga stance, leaning forward as far as possible and kissing your A$$ goodbye. 

No it’s different now there was a massive effort to clean up the mess we made in Vietnam and many made it here some of them I count as friends with this administration it’s different look what they did to the Kurds and their families I know there are people in the administration thinking about thease things but you have the trump factor I’m sure their efforts will be futile 

[Emdog]

2 hours ago, bendejo said:

What about that well-worn Republican bs trope "we don't negotiate with terrorists" ?

They said it often enough when Obama attempted talks with Iran, so don't tell me they forgot.

 

 

I thought Israeli's said they didn't negotiate.... I had a sign I put up in my classroom that read "I don't negotiate with terrorists" (I taught emotionally disturbed).

Expecting Taliban to somehow keep their word is delusional. Maybe until December.

Expecting Taliban to keep it's word is like expecting Tories to keep theirs regarding Ireland and Brexit

[Puchaiyank]

The idea of spending money to aid the Afghans rebuild their country as opposed to spending on military aid is a step in the right direction.

 

At least this administration is trying to divert attention away from conflict and more toward commerce.

 

Give Trump's administration credit where credit is due.

 

 

[Cats4ever]

I would love an explanation of why 6 Taliban inmates have been transferred to Qatar. One of them, a member of the Afghan army, shot three Australian Diggers in a camp they were sharing, while they were off duty and playing cards. He then shot through and was later recaptured and sentenced to life in prison. The whole deal stinks.

[simple1]

4 hours ago, Cats4ever said:

I would love an explanation of why 6 Taliban inmates have been transferred to Qatar. One of them, a member of the Afghan army, shot three Australian Diggers in a camp they were sharing, while they were off duty and playing cards. He then shot through and was later recaptured and sentenced to life in prison. The whole deal stinks.

5,000 Taliban prisoners were swapped for 1,000 Afghan government prisoners. Within the 5,000 Taliban prisoners would be those who murdered untold numbers of Afghans, who would have the greater pain to try and reach a compromise to enable US troop withdrawals and interim peace agreement. I say 'interim' as how many people would expect the Taliban to keep to the terms of an agreement? One can reasonably expect some secret unwritten agreements to enrich some players to get any deal over the line for US domestic political purposes.

[from the home of CC]

there and across the ME men are far too insecure in giving any liberation to women..

[Sujo]

6 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

The idea of spending money to aid the Afghans rebuild their country as opposed to spending on military aid is a step in the right direction.

 

At least this administration is trying to divert attention away from conflict and more toward commerce.

 

Give Trump's administration credit where credit is due.

 

 

Yeah because if obama had tried to teach a deal with the taliban im sure repubs would be yelling from the roof that hes a muslim and should never negotiate with terrorists that the troops lost their lives trying to destroy.

 

The only commerce in afghanistan is opium.

[Puchaiyank]

7 minutes ago, Sujo said:

Yeah because if obama had tried to teach a deal with the taliban im sure repubs would be yelling from the roof that hes a muslim and should never negotiate with terrorists that the troops lost their lives trying to destroy.

 

The only commerce in afghanistan is opium.

He might have delivered an unmarked plane full of cash in the middle of night to show his support. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

11 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Taliban leader Mullah Baradar Akhund said that Afghanistan should "have an Islamic system in which all tribes and ethnicities of the country find themselves without any discrimination and live their lives in love and brotherhood."

 

I think what he actually meant to say was:

 

Taliban leader Mullah Baradar Akhund said that Afghanistan should "have an Islamic system in which [THE MEN OF] all tribes and ethnicities of the country find themselves without any discrimination and live their lives in love and brotherhood, [meting out barbaric punishments under Shariah law, treating women as chattel and growing opium for profit].

 

Edited September 13, 2020 by TallGuyJohninBKK