Dr. Amin Ahmadi
Political parties on 27th March reacted to the list made public on 25th March 2020 of 21 delegates chosen to attend the intra-Afghan negotiations, apparently finalized by President Ghani. Spokespeople of the political parties say that the delegation is not inclusive and will be unable to conduct talks with the Taliban.
Representatives of these parties say that their groups have not been consulted about the creation of the delegation, and that they will hold their own conference in the coming days. The twenty-member delegation will be headed by former national security chief Masoum Stankzai. Political parties and movements have criticized the structure of the delegation. Members of the delegation either lived abroad or they were not born during the revolution, they do not understand the ups and downs of the revolution. The delegation does not at all represent the country's politicians, parties and institutions.
“Next week, there will be a opposition meeting between Afghan politicians about whether this list is acceptable to the people or whether changes need to be made,” said Ahmadullah Alizai, a close ally to Hamid Karzai. "Those people should be included in the list who opposed the Taliban either by the gun, or pen and discussions," said Sayed Eshaq Gailani, the chairman of National Salvation Party, referring to the mainstream Afghan mujahideen factions who fought the Taliban for years.
Sources close to the Taliban say the group will accept a delegation endorsed by the Afghan parties and political movements. But the Taliban will refuse to negotiate with the team announced by the Afghan government, the militant group's spokesman said on Saturday March 28, 2020, in a potential setback to the next steps of the U.S.-brokered peace process.(20200328)