Taliban Not Meet Afghan Delegation in Abu Dhabi
Afghan peace talks with Taliban begun on Monday in Abu Dhabi, in which representatives from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, UAE and US had participated at the meeting.
Afghan peace talks with Taliban begun on Monday in Abu Dhabi, in which representatives from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, UAE and US had participated at the meeting.
The Afghan government said in a statement that its negotiating team led by chief negotiator Abdul Salam Rahimi arrived in Abu Dhabi to begin proximity dialogue with the Taliban delegation and to prepare for a face-to-face meeting between the two sides.
“The chief negotiator met with the US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and will meet with the UAE and Saudi Arabia’s teams this week,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Taliban Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the peace talks with the US, but strongly denied reports that Taliban delegation would also be meeting with the Afghan government.
According to the Taliban spokesman, officials of three countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were also participating in the peace negotiations between them and the US.
Sources close to the Taliban said that Qatar was not happy when it came to know that the talks would take place in the UAE. Also, they said that Qatar didn’t allow some other members of the Afghan Taliban when they attempted to fly to the UAE on Monday for peace talks.
“Yes, it’s true Qatar and we are having same feeling that Qatar would not be happy with the peace process being taken place in the UAE this time. Qatar has done enough for Taliban and appeared the first country that offered its soil to Taliban to set up their political office,” said one source privy to the ongoing developments.
