Doha, 18 July 2021

Two days long crucial and busy bilateral talks between high level Afghan government and Taliban delegations concluded here in Doha at the Sheraton Grand Hotel. The venue where US and Taliban signed historical peace accord in February 2020 saw another milestone step discussions between Afghan government delegation and Taliban.

Afghan delegation was led by Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman, High Council For National Reconciliation and Taliban team was led by Mullah Abdul Ghani, Baradar, Deputy Chief of Taliban Political Affairs.

The conference was followed by on-going discussions between negotiating delegates of both sides in Doha since last 10 months. Slow moving Doha dialogues could result in agreeing on the topics to be discussed.

Joint Communique issued today late evening at a short press conference in presence of Dr. Mutlaq bin Majed Al Qahtani, Special envoy of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar on Counter Terrorism and Mediation in Conflict Resolution.

Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and Mullah Abdul Ghani paid their settlement gratitude to the government of state of Qatar on facilitating the discussions and he stressed on the dialogue between Qatar and Afghanistan for the peaceful solution of 20 years old conflict between USA and Afghan Taliban.

Following points are stated in the joint statement:

1.   The discussions between high level delegates will continue and meet again shortly
2.   To protect the civilian lives and properties from damaging
3.   To take care of the people health specially from pandemic Covid-19 by the party controlling the area.
4.   Direction issued to the members of the Doha negotiating teams to continue their discussions until the peaceful settlement arises.

The two sides from beginning of dialogues at Doha facilitated by the government of Qatar almost 10 months before have been insisting as Afghan government delegates asking for immediate ceasefire in all Afghanistan, whereas, Taliban demand is to establish confidence in each other by releasing it's 7,000 prisoners and desisting its name from embargo.

It was a surprise seeing a high level delegation attending conference without any prior significant achievements in negotiators discussions and coming empty hand carrying any tangible offers to other party.

Suhail Shaheen, Spokesperson of Taliban in exclusive interview after the concluding of conference said that bilateral discussions ended with positive moves and mentioned about the points as mentioned above.

He said that continuity of dialogue between Taliban and the Afghan government is a positive sign which will help in reaching to a peaceful solution of the conflict.

It is important to continue the discussions on the table, he concluded.

Among others present in the hotel lobby to monitor the discussions were Zalmay Khalilzad, US Special Representative for Afghanistan; Jean Arnold, Personal Envoy of UN Secretary General for Afghanistan; and Pierre Albert Ilsas, Special Representative of Norway for Afghanistan.

On the sideline of the bilateral discussions, Indian ambassador to Qatar, Dr. Deepak Mittal met Dr. Abdullah Abdullah