Organizers in Qatar called off the talks amid disputes over the size and composition of the Afghan government’s delegation, setting back hopes for peace in Afghanistan.
By Pamela Constable Pamela Constable Foreign correspondent covering Afghanistan, Pakistan, South Asia, Latin America and immigration Email Bio Follow April 19 at 6:40 AM DOHA, Qatar — Organizers canceled talks between Afghan leaders and Taliban insurgents that were scheduled to begin Friday, dealing a major setback to a U.S.-led peace process aimed at ending nearly 18 years of warfare.
“Despite tireless and well-intentioned efforts of all parties, a shared understanding on how to achieve inclusivity couldn’t be reached,” tweeted Sultan Barakat, a scholar in Doha whose institute organized the talks. “This doesn’t reflect a lack of will to deliver #peace but clearly the moment is not yet right.”
One aide to Ghani, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive topic, said Thursday that the Afghan delegation’s trip to Doha was being delayed because the Taliban representatives and their host, the government of Qatar, wanted some individuals removed from the delegation “in order to make it weak.”
Several other delegates, reached by phone in Kabul, said they still planned to attend any talks but complained of poor management by Ghani’s peace team and excessive demands by the Taliban. The Taliban insisted that any Afghan officials participate only as private individuals so as not to confer legitimacy on a government the insurgents call an American puppet regime.
There were conflicting reports Thursday that officials in Kabul were working to cut down the list, which grew from about 50 to 250 as more and more political and civic leaders demanded to be included. Several sources said the list was cut in half, but a senior government aide said that only a few people dropped out on their own.
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