Afghan Peace Process: MOU between USA and Afghan Talibaan’s expected this week

WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD/KABUL (Sunday, 28 July 2019)  – After the successful visit of Pakistan’s strong and decisive delegation comprising of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Army Chief General Bajwa, DG ISI Lt. General Faiz Hameed and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi,  the Afghan Peace Process has accelerated and hopes for an initial memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing between the USA and the Afghan Talibaan’s is expected this week to secure a plan for the withdrawal of foreign troops and for a Talibaan side commitment to stop militants plotting from Afghan soil, as per sources.

Meanwhile parallel to Pakistan and US efforts for the Afghan Peace Process – on Saturday “Abdul Salam Rahimi the Afghan Govt.’s State Minister for Peace Affairs” claimed direct talks with Taliban would be held in the next two weeks in an unidentified European country – where the Afghan Govt. will be represented by a 15-member delegation” but Suhail Shaheen, a spokesman for the Afghan Talibaan’s political office in Qatar, denied Rahimi’s claim, saying talks with the Afghan Govt. would only come after a deal had been struck with the United States on the withdrawal of its forces.

“Intra-Afghan talks will start only after a foreign force withdrawal is announced,” Shaheen said.

Zalmay Khalilzad the U.S. special envoy for peace in Afghanistan, has clarifying the issue stated that Rahimi had made his announcement that talks between the Taliban and Afghans would happen after the United States “concludes its own agreement” with the Taliban.