A delegation of senior Afghan leaders, including former Afghan president Hamid Karzai and chief peace negotiator Abdullah Abdullah, is likely to make a visit to Doha, Qatar, within the next few days to meet Taliban leaders, media reports say, amid the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan. 

The development came hours after Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammad Bin Abdul Rahman on Friday said Afghan parties made no “tangible” progress in peace talks in Doha. “Our goal is to reach a ceasefire between the Afghan government and (the) Taliban and consensus on the future of the country," he was quoted as saying by Reuters. 

In Turkey, Abdullah Abdullah had held consultations with foreign ministers of Turkey, Qatar, Pakistan, Iran separately.

On Friday, he warned that the Taliban wouldn’t have any intention to seek political settlement after the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan. The withdrawal, he claimed, will have an “impact” on negotiations.

Furthermore, he said there were signs that the insurgent group is seeking a military takeover, adding, “it will be a big miscalculation.” He also warned Afghan neighbors against interfering in the country and asked them to cooperate with the Kabul government for the long-term stability of the country. 

So far, the Taliban has been refusing to participate in any peace talks other than the one already happening in Doha. Meanwhile, US forces have already completed 50 percent of the withdrawal, and the rest would be completed by 15 July--much earlier than the previously announced deadline, 11 September, by US President Joe Biden. 

Afghan leaders are scrambling for fast-tracking peace efforts as the insurgent group continues to make advances on the ground. Nearly three dozen districts have fallen to the Taliban in the last two months. Concerns regarding the security of Kabul airport are also growing, which is required for the continuation of the diplomatic presence of other countries. 

(SAM)