The negotiation teams of the Afghan republic and the Taliban are expected to start “serious talks” from today onwards, said the Afghan chief negotiator Dr. Abdullah Abdullah as reported by TOLOnews. 

No meeting took place between the warring Afghan sides in Doha. Dr. Abdullah Abdullah on Tuesday informed reporters in Kabul that they would start discussions on agendas from Wednesday. 

TOLOnews, citing sources from both sides, reported that the Taliban had prepared 22 articles to recommend for agendas while the Afghan government team had prepared 28 agenda points for talks. 

The ceasefire, protection of the Islamic republic system, the continuation of gains of the last 20 years, civil liberty were among many issues the Afghan team is likely to take up in the next round of talks. 

Some of the Taliban demands, as mentioned in the report, could become major contention points in this phase of negotiations. The Taliban intends to propose the formation of a national council of religious scholars to regulate the country’s education system. 

Other demands, the Taliban plans to bring up: the rights of women and men, freedom of media should be in line with Islamic teaching. 

“We believe that no one is the owner of our country and our belief. We all believe in Islam and believe in a house which is named Afghanistan,” Fatima Gailani, a member of the republic’s team was quoted as saying by TOLOnews.