Intra-Afghan talks expected to open amid renewed Taliban violence, US airstrikes

The long-awaited historic accord between Washington and the Taliban that set the stage to terminate the longest war in modern American history and paved way for the intra-Afghan talks was signed on February 29. The deal laid out a timetable for the withdrawal of some 8,600 troops out of the current 13,000 stationed in Afghanistan within 135 days. The full pullout is expected in 14 months.

However, the events that followed clearly indicated that the promising agreement paved a rocky road to the intra-Afghan talks.

Last week, the US Forces in Afghanistan carried out an airstrike against the Taliban in the Afghan province of Helmand in retaliation for the group’s attack near a football stadium in Khost province. It was the first US strike against the Taliban in 11 days.

An attack on Friday targeting a ceremony attended by top Afghan political leaders and Ghani’s presidential rival Abdullah Abdullah once again raised questions whether peace in the war-ravaged country will ever be possible. The Taliban quickly distanced themselves from the attack which claimed 30 lives. The Islamic State later claimed responsibility for the attack.

What added to the already fluid situation was a rocket attack during the swearing-in ceremony of Ghani on Monday. One rocket struck near the presidential palace as the newly inaugurated president was speaking. The attack was claimed by IS.

While hopes were high on the day of the signing of the deal, later it became clear that not all promises were kept.

"With the latest developments, now even the tentative date, March 10 for intra-Afghan talks is being questioned. It would be interesting to see if US Special Representative Mr Zalmay Khalilzad could persuade all sides to make the above happen," Nadir Naim, deputy chairman of the Afghan High Peace Council said.

Reacting to media reports claiming that Oslo may be the venue to host the upcoming negotiations, Naim said that the Norwegian capital "was certainly on the table" but was "never officially confirmed by all sides."

Meanwhile, Afghan media reported that both Ghani and his arch-rival Abdullah, who refused to recognize the results of the presidential vote and proclaimed himself president, are preparing their separate delegations for the talks.

The joy after the US-Taliban peace deal was clouded the next day after the accord was signed. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who was not present at the signing ceremony in Doha, said that US President Donald Trump had not asked for the release of the 5,000 Taliban prisoners and added that the issue should be a part of the upcoming negotiations.

On Friday, the Taliban said that the movement was ready to begin peace talks with the country's government once all preconditions are fulfilled clearly indicating that the release of the prisoners was a necessary condition of the talks. Reacting to the group’s statement, Ghani clarified that the release of Taliban prisoners as part of a peace deal between the US and the militant group required a transparent mechanism.

However, during his inauguration on Monday, Ghani vowed to release the imprisoned Taliban fighters in an encouraging sign for the peace process. He explained that a mechanism for the release of the Taliban prisoners had finally been reached and added that he would issue a presidential decree on Tuesday.