Monitoring Desk: The conference on Afghanistan titled “Peace Process, Cooperation in the Sphere of Security and Regional Interaction” starts today in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Foreign ministers of Iran, Russia, Pakistan, India and Turkey are attending this conference while diplomats from China, European Union, Germany, France, Italy, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, United Nations, United States and United Arab Emirates (UAE) have confirmed their participation in Tashkent Conference on Afghanistan. Afghan delegation is led by President Ashraf Ghani.
Agenda of Conference includes deliberations to find a peaceful solution of Afghan civil war but main stakeholder of Afghan war—the Taliban are not attending this conference. Taliban claim they have not been invited for this conference.
Available information suggest that “Tashkent Declaration” will be issued at the end of Conference including a demand for Afghan-lead solution for Afghan Civil War but will also urge fighting factions to accept Afghan Constitution and talks within the parameter of existing Afghan Parliament and the prevailing political system.
It is pertinent to mention that Afghan Taliban do not accept existing Afghan Parliament and political system and its Constitution and demand talks for imposition of Shariah in war-ridden country. Taliban have time and again say that peaceful solution of Afghan civil war lies in withdrawal of foreign troops (NATO, US, ISAF members) from Afghanistan at first move towards dialogue while US-backed Kabul government wishes talks with Taliban without sending foreign troops out of Afghanistan and by using military power before and during process of political talks with Taliban.
