The U.S. Secretary of State has called the occasion as “truly momentous”
Peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government kick off in Qatar today with the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declaring it a “truly momentous” occasion. He hoped that the conflict that has now lasted almost for two decades will finally come to an end. The United States is already in peace talks with Taliban and wants to pull out its troop from Afghanistan sometime next year.
The State Secretary agreed there will be challenges in the talks but both sides must seize the opportunity to bring lasting peace in the country. He also urged both sides to think about their future generations.
“We will undoubtedly encounter many challenges in the talks over the coming days, weeks and months,” Pompeo said.”Remember you are acting not only for this generation of Afghans but for future generations as well, your children and your grandchildren.”
Former Chief Executive of the country Abdullah Abdullah has called for ceasefire from both sides. According to figures provided by him, 12,000 Afghans have lost their lives while another 15,000 have been injured since the Taliban and U.S. authorities signed their peace agreement.
Taliban in Afghanistan are now being run by its cofounder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. While the government wants to continue the governing system currently in use, the Taliban are likely going to maintain a hardline on the matter. They want to convert Afghanistan into an Islamic Emirate.
“We want Afghanistan to have an Islamic system in which people from all walks of life see themselves without discrimination and live in brotherhood with each other,” Baradar said.
Like all conflicts, this one too will have to be solved on the talks table. It is best that both sides can put aside their differences and fix the problem once and for all. Otherwise, thousands more will lose their lives and the on again, off again talks process will continue in its endless loop.