Doha: Historic negotiations between the Taliban and Afghanistan's political leadership opened in Qatar on Sunday, offering the best chance of peace after decades of war. The US had hoped negotiations would start within two weeks of Feb. 29, when it signed a peace deal with the Taliban, effectively acknowledging a military stalemate after nearly two decades of conflict. The agreement called for direct intra-Afghan negotiations but required both sides to release prisoners as a sign of good faith ahead of talks.
The Afghan government, which was in the throes of a political crisis over a disputed presidential election held last September, balked at being told to free 5,000 Taliban but eventually relented. US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who invested a year and a half negotiating the peace deal, called negotiations between Afghanistan's warring sides ``a historic opportunity for peace ... one that benefits all Afghans and contributes to regional stability and global security.'' But as negotiations begin, the issues that separate the two sides are many, the mistrust is deep and the way forward is fraught with uncertainty.
Here's where things stand going into the talks.
One of the first items on the agenda will be a comprehensive and permanent cease-fire. The government has been relentless in its demand for one, and the Taliban have repeatedly said it would be one of the first items on the agenda when negotiations begin. The big hurdle is likely to be what to do with tens of thousands of armed Taliban fighters and the militias loyal to government-allied warlords.
Protection of rights, particularly women's, will also be high on the agenda. Afghanistan, including the government, is deeply conservative and in 19 years has refused to pass a women's rights bill. The eyes of the international community are likely to be the biggest motivator for making progress for women.
The Taliban have already said yes to women and girls attending school, women working, women in politics and as lawyers and judges. However, they say they draw the line at a woman president or Supreme Court chief justice. Numerous political leaders in Kabul - men and even a few women - who say this is a compromise they can live with. Not everyone agrees, including the former head of Afghanistan's Human Rights Commission, Sima Samar.
Constitutional changes are also expected to be high on the agenda, and big in many Afghans' minds will be the Taliban's interpretation of Islamic rules. Other housekeeping issues include deciding on the name of the country: Islamic Republic or Islamic Emirate?
On the Taliban side, the 20-member negotiating team is a solid group that includes 13 members from the movement's leadership council. It is led by Taliban chief justice Abdul Hakim, whose appointment last weekend came as a surprise. He replaced Sher Mohammed Abbas Stanikzai, who is now deputy head of the Taliban team.
