Afghanistan President's special envoy Umer Daudzai slammed Ghani's remarks. "US decision to withdraw troops is a big mistake", says Afghanistan President's special envoy Umer Daudzai while speaking to WION and blamed the US for the Afghan security situation.

WION Exclusive: Ghani's top aide Umer Daudzai slams US

In a landmark decision, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/opinions/afghan-peace-talks-india-must-update-its-contingency-plans-to-prevent-talibans-takeover-of-kabul-207911&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiv37P99L_hAhX-7HMBHeszCJAQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw3ik_GmmZHIZKrcl-l5sQFH">Afghanistan</a> on Sunday (local time) announced that it will send an official delegation to Qatar later this month for <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-taliban-talks-end-for-now-with-no-afghan-peace-deal-202982&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjUiL-V9b_hAhXK6nMBHVGYAOgQFggKMAI&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw3if3NX58Ni-BcX6wH8M6S7">peace talks </a>with the Taliban.

"An inclusive official delegation will attend the Qatar meeting representing Afghanistan," Anadolu News Agency quoted Mohammad Umer Daudzai, special presidential envoy, as saying. The Taliban is yet to respond to the development. The group has so far refused to participate in the peace talks initiated by the Afghan government.

The announcement comes in the midst of US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad`s multi-nation tour on Afghanistan`s peace process and to give a renewed push for stalled negotiations between Kabul and the Taliban. It also comes after several rounds of negotiations between the US and Taliban in Doha, Qatar`s capital city.

These negotiations are aimed at ending the nearly two-decades-old conflict in Afghanistan.No dates have been announced yet for the next round of talks, which is slated to take place later this month. Last month, Afghan Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah had said that the Taliban is an "obstacle" in the way of reaching peace in war-torn Afghanistan.

He also professed that the formation of a negotiation team can prevent the Taliban from making an "excuse" to avoid talks."Taliban has been the obstacle for taking the first step (for peace) because they have an excuse that we do not negotiate with government and that is why I say that Taliban is an obstacle on the way of reaching to peace," TOLONews had quoted Abdullah said as saying.

In February, Russia had hosted a meeting on Afghanistan`s peace process in which various Taliban members were invited. However, Afghanistan was not invited to the meet. On being snubbed for the summit, Kabul had expressed reservations and said that the talks in Moscow were held against the spirit of Afghan-led and owned peace process.&nbsp;

In a landmark decision, Afghanistan on Sunday (local time) announced that it will send an official delegation to Qatar later this month for peace talks with the Taliban.

In a landmark decision, Afghanistan on Sunday (local time) announced that it will send an official delegation to Qatar later this month for peace talks with the Taliban. "An inclusive official delegation will attend the Qatar meeting representing Afghanistan," Anadolu News Agency quoted Mohammad Umer Daudzai, special presidential envoy, as saying. The Taliban is yet to respond to the development. The group has so far refused to participate in the peace talks initiated by the Afghan government. The announcement comes in the midst of US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad`s multi-nation tour on Afghanistan`s peace process and to give a renewed push for stalled negotiations between Kabul and the Taliban. It also comes after several rounds of negotiations between the US and Taliban in Doha, Qatar`s capital city. These negotiations are aimed at ending the nearly two-decades-old conflict in Afghanistan.No dates have been announced yet for the next round of talks, which is slated to take place later this month. Last month, Afghan Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah had said that the Taliban is an "obstacle" in the way of reaching peace in war-torn Afghanistan. He also professed that the formation of a negotiation team can prevent the Taliban from making an "excuse" to avoid talks."Taliban has been the obstacle for taking the first step (for peace) because they have an excuse that we do not negotiate with government and that is why I say that Taliban is an obstacle on the way of reaching to peace," TOLONews had quoted Abdullah said as saying. In February, Russia had hosted a meeting on Afghanistan`s peace process in which various Taliban members were invited. However, Afghanistan was not invited to the meet. On being snubbed for the summit, Kabul had expressed reservations and said that the talks in Moscow were held against the spirit of Afghan-led and owned peace process.

Afghanistan to hold peace talks with Taliban in Qatar

&nbsp;Afghanistan is planning to hold a grand council of tribal elders and political leaders next month to discuss how to end the Taliban insurgency, a presidential peace envoy said, as Taliban officials and US diplomats prepared to resume talks in Qatar on Monday.

The assembly, known as a loya jirga, will be convened in Kabul on March 17, with more than 2,000 participants gathering for four days of debate under a large tent, according to Umer Daudzai, the special peace envoy appointed last year by President Ashraf Ghani.

The loya jirga is a centuries-old institution used to build consensus among competing tribes, factions and ethnic groups and was used to lay the foundations of a post-Taliban society after a US-led campaign drove the hardline Islamist militants from power in 2001.

Having waged an unrelenting guerrilla war against government and Western forces since then, the Taliban has consistently refused to talk to the Kabul government, dismissing it as a foreign-backed "puppet" regime.

A loya jirga, however, could potentially provide a forum for representatives of the Taliban to enter into a dialogue with wider Afghan society.

"The main purpose of holding the loya jirga is to reach a national consensus for peace in the country," said Daudzai, who is leading preparations for the assembly.

Daudzai, a former interior minister, said it would also be an opportunity to make clear that the ultra-hardline rule imposed by the Taliban in the 1990s, with its harsh punishments and restrictions on womens' rights, were unacceptable for Afghanistan's broader society.

"We will discuss in the jirga that the gains, particularly the rights of women and freedom of speech are not up for debate or concession," Daudzai said.

Participants invited to attend the jirga would be chosen by special committees to provide a voice for a cross-section of Afghan society from across the country.

On Monday, US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad is due to meet a Taliban delegation in Qatar for the latest in a round of meetings that started last year, with the focus likely to be on how to implement a ceasefire and the possible withdrawal of international troops.

The Taliban's political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar will be the most senior figure attending the talks.

The US side has been trying to persuade the Taliban to talk to the government in Kabul. Daudzai, who would lead any negotiations with the Taliban, said the insurgents would eventually have to engage with the government to address their demands for the exchange prisoners and removal of international travel bans on senior leaders.

With civilian casualties hitting record levels last year and more than 3,800 people killed, Daudzai said the momentum for peace was fast building and he hoped direct negotiations with the Taliban could start within two to three months.

Afghanistan is planning to hold a grand council of tribal elders and political leaders next month to discuss how to end the Taliban insurgency, a presidential peace envoy said, as Taliban officials and US diplomats prepared to resume talks in Qatar on Monday.

Afghanistan is planning to hold a grand council of tribal elders and political leaders next month to discuss how to end the Taliban insurgency, a presidential peace envoy said, as Taliban officials and US diplomats prepared to resume talks in Qatar on Monday. The assembly, known as a loya jirga, will be convened in Kabul on March 17, with more than 2,000 participants gathering for four days of debate under a large tent, according to Umer Daudzai, the special peace envoy appointed last year by President Ashraf Ghani. The loya jirga is a centuries-old institution used to build consensus among competing tribes, factions and ethnic groups and was used to lay the foundations of a post-Taliban society after a US-led campaign drove the hardline Islamist militants from power in 2001. Having waged an unrelenting guerrilla war against government and Western forces since then, the Taliban has consistently refused to talk to the Kabul government, dismissing it as a foreign-backed "puppet" regime. A loya jirga, however, could potentially provide a forum for representatives of the Taliban to enter into a dialogue with wider Afghan society. "The main purpose of holding the loya jirga is to reach a national consensus for peace in the country," said Daudzai, who is leading preparations for the assembly. Daudzai, a former interior minister, said it would also be an opportunity to make clear that the ultra-hardline rule imposed by the Taliban in the 1990s, with its harsh punishments and restrictions on womens' rights, were unacceptable for Afghanistan's broader society. "We will discuss in the jirga that the gains, particularly the rights of women and freedom of speech are not up for debate or concession," Daudzai said. Participants invited to attend the jirga would be chosen by special committees to provide a voice for a cross-section of Afghan society from across the country. On Monday, US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad is due to meet a Taliban delegation in Qatar for the latest in a round of meetings that started last year, with the focus likely to be on how to implement a ceasefire and the possible withdrawal of international troops. The Taliban's political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar will be the most senior figure attending the talks. The US side has been trying to persuade the Taliban to talk to the government in Kabul. Daudzai, who would lead any negotiations with the Taliban, said the insurgents would eventually have to engage with the government to address their demands for the exchange prisoners and removal of international travel bans on senior leaders. With civilian casualties hitting record levels last year and more than 3,800 people killed, Daudzai said the momentum for peace was fast building and he hoped direct negotiations with the Taliban could start within two to three months.

Afghanistan to hold grand council of tribal elders, political leaders to discuss peace talks

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s special envoy Umer Daudzai has said that the rapid <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/trump-serious-about-afghan-withdrawal-taliban-194468">withdrawal of US troops</a> from the country would only create a "vacuum and increase bloodshed".

During an interview with CNN, Daudzai was quoted as saying, "If it happened in a matter that's not orderly ... if it happens that it leaves a vacuum behind, then obviously bloodshed would increase."

Daudzai told CNN that while the peace talks in Qatar have brought "clarity", neither side has fully agreed to anything.

The statement by Daudzai, President Ghani’s Special Representative on Regional Affairs for Consensus on Peace, came as the Afghan government along with the international community is seeking to re-establish peace in the region.

His remarks come after US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad announced last week that the US and Taliban have agreed in principle to chalk out a framework for a deal that could end the 17-year old conflict in Afghanistan, during the six-day long talks in Doha.

During a press briefing at the Oval Office in White House on Friday, US President Donald Trump stated that Afghanistan is seeking for "very serious negotiations for the first time" on peace efforts in the past 18 years while adding "there’s a reason for that."

''You even look at what’s going on, and I can’t tell you that this is a guarantee because we’re going into close to 19 years in being in Afghanistan, and for the first time they’re talking about settling,” Trump said.“They’re talking about making an agreement and we bring our people back home if that happens,” Trump added.

Last year in December, Trump abruptly announced his decision to withdraw half of the US troops from Afghanistan.

The New York Times on January 30 reported that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in a letter to Trump had requested for a slow withdrawal of the US forces.&nbsp;

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s special envoy Umer Daudzai has said that the rapid withdrawal of US troops from the country would only create a "vacuum and increase bloodshed".

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s special envoy Umer Daudzai has said that the rapid withdrawal of US troops from the country would only create a "vacuum and increase bloodshed". During an interview with CNN, Daudzai was quoted as saying, "If it happened in a matter that's not orderly ... if it happens that it leaves a vacuum behind, then obviously bloodshed would increase." Daudzai told CNN that while the peace talks in Qatar have brought "clarity", neither side has fully agreed to anything. The statement by Daudzai, President Ghani’s Special Representative on Regional Affairs for Consensus on Peace, came as the Afghan government along with the international community is seeking to re-establish peace in the region. His remarks come after US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad announced last week that the US and Taliban have agreed in principle to chalk out a framework for a deal that could end the 17-year old conflict in Afghanistan, during the six-day long talks in Doha. During a press briefing at the Oval Office in White House on Friday, US President Donald Trump stated that Afghanistan is seeking for "very serious negotiations for the first time" on peace efforts in the past 18 years while adding "there’s a reason for that." ''You even look at what’s going on, and I can’t tell you that this is a guarantee because we’re going into close to 19 years in being in Afghanistan, and for the first time they’re talking about settling,” Trump said.“They’re talking about making an agreement and we bring our people back home if that happens,” Trump added. Last year in December, Trump abruptly announced his decision to withdraw half of the US troops from Afghanistan. The New York Times on January 30 reported that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in a letter to Trump had requested for a slow withdrawal of the US forces.

'Rapid US troops withdrawal would increase bloodshed', says Afghan envoy

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WION Exclusive: Ghani's top aide Umer Daudzai slams US

Afghanistan to hold peace talks with Taliban in Qatar

Afghanistan to hold grand council of tribal elders, political leaders to discuss peace talks

'Rapid US troops withdrawal would increase bloodshed', says Afghan envoy