By Hamza Ameer
Islamabad, Jun 11 (IANS): The recent visit of Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Jawed Bajwa to Kabul is being taken as the first positive step forward towards initiation of the all-important intra-Afghan negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government.
Pakistan's role of a facilitator is being widely appreciated and expectations are being set on a timeline when the intra-Afghan dialogue will start.
While the efforts towards peace negotiations may be a positive step forward, setting a timeline of intra-Afghan dialogue or even setting hopes of their initiations in the near future, seems a far fetched assessment.
Speaking exclusively to IANS, spokesperson of the Taliban in Doha, Suhail Shaheen maintained that there could be no dialogue with the Afghan government until all the prisoners in Afghan jails are released, as per the agreement signed on February 29 in a landmark ceremony in Doha between the United States and the Taliban.
"When the prisoners are released, we will start the Intra-Afghan dialogue as it is mentioned in the peace agreement," said Suhail Shaheen.
"The prisoners were to be released before March 10, before the commencement of the intra-Afghan dialogue. But as their release was delayed and with that commencement of the intra-Afghan negotiations, was also delayed," he added.
Shaheen said that till now, at least 2,500 prisoners have been released by the Afghan government under the leadership of Ashraf Ghani, while the commitment and as per terms of the agreement, at least 5,000 prisoners are to be released.
"We hope that the remaining prisoners will be released soon so that the next step towards intra-Afghan dialogue can be started," he said.
The Taliban spokesperson also stated that Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan (IEA) has already decided and finalized its terms for the intra-Afghan dialogue during its recent Shura meetings and will be ready to table them after the prisoner release is complete.
"We are moving forward as per the terms of the agreement that was signed on February 29. And it states that 5,000 prisoners will be released. Therefore, intra-Afghan dialogues can only start after that commitment is fulfilled by the Kabul administration," he said.
"We are fully prepared and ready to initiate intra-Afghan negotiations. But that can only happen after the all the prisoners are released. So, we are waiting for Kabul administration to ensure early release. Only then, the dialogue will start," he added.
On the other hand, Pakistan Army Chief's visit to Kabul and separate meetings with President Ashraf Ghani and Chief of Afghan High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah during an unannounced visit Tuesday came after the visit of US Special Envoy for Afghan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad to Islamabad and Kabul and meeting with Taliban leaders in Doha.
"Gen Bajwa expressed Pakistan's support for our efforts and for the earliest possible start of intra-Afghan talks," said Abdullah Abdullah.
"I told him that we are ready to engage with the Taliban on our common issues and to end the conflict and live together in peace. I reiterated Pakistan's constructive role in this regard," he added.
Pakistan has also recently appointed a special envoy to Afghanistan Muhammad Sadiq, who also accompanied him during the visit.
While Abdullah Abdullah has hinted towards a possibility of intra-Afghan talks beginning soon, Taliban have reminded the Kabul administration about the prisoner release commitment, reiterating that there can be talks only after the 5,000 prisoners are released.