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The Trump Administration makes further efforts to revive peace talks in Afghanistan and plans to revive direct talks with the Taliban, an initiative that in the past has prompted protests from the Afghan government
. and Afghan officials have described the possibility of talks between the United States and the Taliban being in their infancy.
"There is renewed attention … but no clear negotiating strategy [and] no staff to conduct real talks," a US official said on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations sensitive
. , approved by President Trump last summer, and the addition of several thousand American soldiers was not enough to break the conflict or topple the Taliban momentum.
Meanwhile, a peace effort led by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was thwarted by the Taliban. refusal to negotiate with the Afghan government. US and Afghan officials have described the possibility of individual talks with the Taliban as a way to break the initial stalemate.
"I read this as a very positive development," said Johnny Walsh, senior expert in the United States. Institute of Peace (USIP) and former senior adviser to the State Department on the peace process in Afghanistan. "I think the administration is trying to remove, one by one, the Taliban's apology for not speaking."
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani accompanied by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrives for a press conference at the Presidential Palace in Kabul 9, 2018. (Pool / Reuters)
Some questions, such as the role of the Taliban in the Afghan political process, revisions to the Afghan constitution and the protection of women can only be decided for Afghans, he said. But other issues, such as the level of US troops and their mission, could be raised during the US direct talks with the Taliban.
Gen. John Nicholson, the top US commander in Afghanistan, warned in a statement that "the United States is not a substitute for the Afghan people or the Afghan government" in the negotiations. Afghan officials have issued a similar message
"This remains an Afghan-led process," said Haroon Chakansuri, chief spokesman for Ghani. "The Taliban must engage with the sovereign government of Afghanistan."
But a Ghani administration official aware of the efforts confirmed the new tactics.
"The United States wants to find a way out, it can not continue indefinitely, and the United States and Afghanistan want to respond to all requests to bring the Taliban to the table," said the United States official. , asking for anonymity because he was not allowed to express himself publicly. "Kabul is on board, that's for sure, but whether they like it or not a question. "
In recent weeks, there have been signs that the US government is weighing new approaches, state secretary Mike Pompeo hinted last week when 39 a trip to Kabul that the presence of US troops, of which the Taliban said that they were the main driver of the insurgency, could be the subject of negotiations. "An unanswered question is whether the Taliban are willing to lay the groundwork for talks, especially he seems to be standing on the battlefield. Christopher Kolenda, who has met with Taliban officials as an American military officer and more recently as a civilian in privately backed negotiations, said the Taliban increasingly feared the dissolution of his country. Kolenda
"When your opponent accepts your war goals, that's what victory looks like," said Kolenda.
Other former US and Afghan officials were less optimistic about the possibility of making progress on the negotiations. diplomatic initiative. A recent ceasefire, which lasted three days, suggested that the Taliban retain control of their forces. During this break, Taliban fighters posed for photos with Afghan army forces
"This tells me that there is a lot of demand for peace, not only among the people but also among the fighters, "said Andrew Wilder. , vice president of the USIP
In the past, the US military has been skeptical about peace talks. But Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and Pompeo would support a renewed diplomatic effort
. Several Afghan parliamentarians close to Ghani were caught unawares by the news, saying the administration should have consulted them before agreeing to withdraw in the peace talks.
"We have an elected government and it should be involved in peace" Another question is whether the Trump administration, which is understaffed and focuses on other crises, has the capacity to conduct talks that could stretch for years. Some current and former officials have raised the possibility of finding an international mediator to oversee the talks.
"It would be very helpful to have a neutral individual or a third party to facilitate a peace process so that it can keep up with the inevitable stresses." Said Laurel Miller, Senior Expert in foreign policy at Rand Corp. and former special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan in the State Department. "There is a very strong argument right now for being flexible and creative."
Olivio reported from Kabul, Sayed Salahuddin and Sharif Hassan, also in Kabul, contributed to this report
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