US envoy due in Pakistan on Sunday to discuss Afghan issues

 

US Special Peace Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad will be arriving in Islamabad on Sunday for talks on ways how to end the stalemate in peace talks with the Taliban, well-informed sources disclosed to Daily Times.

Sources said that the US envoy would hold talks with senior officials at the Foreign Office on Pakistan’s cooperation in the peace process.

Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheeen said in an earlier interview that agreement on the complete withdrawal of the troops will pave the way for discussions on other issues.

Taliban political negotiators believe the US side “usually ignores our calls for signing the agreement first on the complete withdrawal of the US and NATO troops. But the US brings other issues like a ceasefire and direct talks with the Kabul administration that is unacceptable to our side.”

“We have told them (Americans) that we will not declare a ceasefire until the US makes a public announcement on the withdrawal of the troops and a time-frame for the withdrawal. We have made it clear that no ceasefire will be announced while foreign invasion continues,” a Taliban official said, who does not want to be identified by name.

It is also hard for the Taliban to convince their military commanders and foot soldiers on the ceasefire until there is a deal on the troops withdrawal.

“We have also categorically told the American negotiators that we want to decide first the ‘external aspect’ of the conflict with them and that is a complete withdrawal of foreign troops and in return, we will ensure that no one used the Taliban controlled areas against the US and other countries,” he said.

“When we insist to solve the external aspect of the conflict first, the Americans call for a ceasefire and ignore the real issue. We told them if the US solves the withdrawal issue, then other issues will be solved,” he further said.

The Taliban leader said the Taliban told the US side during the 6th round that another agenda for the ‘internal aspect’ of the problem will be prepared after agreement on the troop’s issue.

The US is seemed in a fix over the withdrawal issue as it is reluctant to strike a deal only on this issue and wants a ceasefire and Taliban agreement to talk to the Afghan government should be part of a larger agreement. Taliban have refused to accept this.

Taliban and Khalilzad have held six rounds of talks in Qatar since October and both claimed progress. However, they have failed to reach an agreement. The last round was held on May 1-9.