Kabul: Zalmay Khalilzad, the US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Peace, calls on the leaders of Afghanistan to give priority to their nation and homeland, arguing that the peace deal with Taliban provided a historical opportunity for Afghanistan.

“I welcome the NATO statement which focuses on key steps and reflects the coalition’s opinion on peace and stability in Afghanistan.”

He said that NATO reiterated the need for a humanitarian cease-fire in Afghanistan to help the remove of Corona virus. The NATO has demanded Taliban for reduction in violence and called on Kabul to end political crisis with completing the prisoner swap process.

Khalilzad added that war and peace, poverty and illness depend on the decision of war parties in Afghanistan.

The government has so far released 550 Taliban prisoners from 18 provinces.

The freed Taliban fighters have sworn not to return to war fronts, according to the National Security Council.

President Ghani is still stuck in political problems as his rival in election Abdullah Abdullah rejected the results of election and announced a parallel government.

Now, political figures including Hamid Karzai are trying to mediate for a solution.

The NATO called on the Afghan war parties to use the “historical opportunity” in ending the long war through peace negotiations.

There has been no progress on the formation of the High Council of Peace and Reconciliation as Abdullah Abdullah, President Ghani’s political opponent, has not presented his proposed plan to the Presidential Palace.

Abdullah last month rejected a proposed plan by President Ghani in which Ghani proposed that Abdullah lead the High Council of Peace and Reconciliation,  a government institution tasked with leading peace efforts and establishing the framework for negotiations with the Taliban.

Abdullah’s aides last week said a proposed plan had been prepared by their team and it would be shared with Ghani in the near future.

“In (Abdullah’s) plan, the authorities, responsibilities and opportunities of the future government have been considered for the two leading teams,” said Omid Maisam, a spokesman for Abdullah.

Analysts familiar with the political talks between the two teams said any delay in the process will add another layer of complexity to the peace process and to the fragile political and security situation in the country.

“The plan for an agreement between the Presidential Palace and Sapidar Palace should be drafted in a way that it brings national unity and ensures peace in Afghanistan. Otherwise, no plan will have any benefit,” said Shahzada Massoud, a political affairs analyst and a close aide to former president Hamid Karzai.

“This is a ‘shame’ for them as they are engaged in their internal dispute,” said Abdul Zahir Tamim, an MP.

This comes as NATO and its allies, including the US, have reiterated their call to Afghan political leaders to end their dispute and agree on an inclusive government in order to move the peace process forward, which they call a "historical opportunity" for Afghanistan.

An activist in Kabul, Aziz Rafee, who heads a civil society organization, said the tensions have affected Afghanistan’s credibility among its international partners.

So far, according to officials and a source, six proposed plans have been exchanged between the two sides.

https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/still-no%C2%A0reconciliation-council-impasse-remains