Islamabad: The negotiations between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have once again faced difficulties. According to diplomatic sources, the Afghan delegation has suddenly come up with new demands, due to which the negotiating environment has become tense.
Sources say that the Afghan delegation was talking under different instructions from three parts, Kandahar, Kabul and Khost. As the stage of preparing written guarantees progressed, the Kabul group unexpectedly set the condition of making the US a guarantor in the negotiations. This demand was not only off the agenda but also disturbed the mediation teams.
There are also reports that several members of the Afghan delegation were not consistent in their position and kept putting pressure on each other. Some people also followed the instructions of those sitting outside the room, which raised questions about seriousness.
According to diplomatic experts, the focus of the Afghan representatives was more on achieving financial benefits than solving security challenges. Afghanistan wants the US to join as a guarantor, which would open up new avenues of financial assistance.
Sources said that intermediary countries like Qatar and Turkey have described Pakistan’s position as realistic. According to them, the real problem is not the content but the internal division of the Afghan authorities. If the internal power struggle in Kabul does not end, lasting peace with Pakistan will not be possible.
