Abdullah: Talks Should Focus on Ceasefire, Violence Reduction
Abdullah Abdullah, the head of the High Council of National Reconciliation, on Thursday said that he has instructed the peace negotiating team representing the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in the talks with the Taliban to focus on a ceasefire and a reduction in violence.
Abdullah also hailed efforts made by the republic side for talks on peace.
“In a video call with the Republic s Negotiation Team in Doha, I listened to their report, the progress they have made, and the challenges they face. I praised the team for their tireless efforts, and hard work for peace. I instructed them to continue their efforts for peace,” tweeted Abdullah.
Afghan Army Chief Tweets Back at Iranian Security Leader
Afghanistan s Chief of Army Staff Gen. Mohammad Yasin Zia, in reaction to a tweet of Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said: “Unfortunately, your understanding of the current war in Afghanistan is incorrect. The Taliban is fighting against the people of Afghanistan not against US. We act decisively against a group of enemies of the Afghan people.
On Wednesday, Shamkhani in a tweet said: “In today s meeting with the Taliban political delegation: I found the leaders of this group determined to fight the US. Someone who has been under US torture at Guantanamo for 13 years, has not given up fighting the US in the region.”
Abdullah Offers Prisoners, Removal from Blacklist to Taliban
Chairman the High Council of National Reconciliation (HCNR) Abdullah Abdullah on Wednesday said that several opportunities for bringing peace in the country have been lost, stating that the country can’t afford the current opportunity for peace to be wasted.
Abdullah said that all Taliban prisoners will be freed, and the names of the Taliban’s members will be removed from the UN blacklist after the Taliban agree to peace.
“We have lost a lot of opportunities, if these opportunities (current talks in Doha) are wasted, then we will not have much time to work every single day, the people are sacrificed due to the prevailing war,” said Abdullah.
Potential Robert Malley Tap for Iran Envoy Sparks Firestorm
25 Jan 2021
The Biden administration’s rumored appointment of former national security official Robert Malley as special envoy to Iran has sparked an outcry, with critics saying the move would only benefit the ayatollahs and would send a “chilling signal” the new American administration does not care about Tehran’s regional terror nor its human rights infractions.
Under former President Barack Obama, Malley, then a national security official, was one of the most enthusiastic proponents of the fIran deal. He was also initially kicked off of Obama’s first presidential campaign after reports emerged he had met with members of the Hamas terror group.
Iran: Afghan Talks Should Not be Controlled by Certain Nations
The Iranian ambassador to Afghanistan, Bahadur Aminian, said that Iran would like the Afghan peace process out from under the monopoly of certain nations.
Meanwhile, the Taliban s deputy leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar has arrived in Tehran where he is meeting top Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said that Baradar’s trip to Tehran was conducted in coordination with the Afghan government.
The delegation will talk to Iranian officials about the relations between the two countries, the situation of the Afghan refugees, and the current political and security situation of Afghanistan and region, said Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem on Tuesday.