KABUL, Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The Afghan government’s negotiation team who travelled to Qatar’s capital Doha, yesterday, to hold direct talks with the Taliban outfit, raised the ray of hope among Afghans, towards peace in their country.
“I am very happy to see the government peace delegation going to Doha for talks with the Taliban, to end the war in the country,” 41-year-old Kabul resident, Karimullah Khan said.
Khan lamented that the prolonged war and militancy had destroyed his life and claimed the lives of his family members and relatives.
The much-awaited intra-Afghan dialogue is scheduled to open in Doha, at a ceremony to be attended by senior officials from different countries, including U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, Pakistani Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and senior officials from the host country, Qatar.
The 21-member negotiating team, headed by Afghan former spy chief, Mohammed Masoom Stanekzai, left Kabul for Doha yesterday afternoon to hold talks with the Taliban group to find a negotiated solution to Afghanistan’s protracted war.
“This is a historic day. I am hopeful that the talks could lead to ending the war and restoring lasting peace in Afghanistan,” Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah, said, before embarking the plane for Doha.
The continued militancy and conflicts claim the lives of Afghans, including civilians, almost everyday.
At least four dozens, mostly militants, have been killed in the country over the past 24 hours, according to security officials.
A deadly bomb attack, targeting the motorcade of Afghan First Vice-President, Amrullah Saleh, on Wednesday, slightly injured the vice president but claimed more than a dozen lives and injured scores of others.– NNN-AGENCIES
