Conference on Afghan Peace in Turkey Expected on March 27
The proposed UN-led conference on Afghan peace in Turkey may take place on March 27, sources close to the Taliban told on Wednesday.
US sources so far have not confirmed that the meeting will be held on March 27.
The Afghan government also has not commented on the Turkey conference.
Turkey is ready to take part in mediation efforts for peace in Afghanistan and the region, the country’s ruling party spokesman said Tuesday, Anadolu Agency reported.
“Afghanistan is a very important country for us,” Omer Celik, spokesman for the Justice and Development (AK) Party, told reporters in the capital Ankara after a meeting of the party’s Central Executive Board, according to Anadolu news agency’s report.
To a question about ongoing intra-Afghan peace talks, Celik said: “Turkey is ready to be involved in all kinds of mediation efforts for peace in Afghanistan and the region.”
The conference was proposed by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in his letter to President Ashraf Ghani a copy of which was seen by media.
In his letter, Blinken puts forth suggestions to the Afghan government to accelerate the peace process, including convening a UN-facilitated conference with international stakeholders, proposals to facilitate discussion between the two sides to form a negotiated settlement and ceasefire, a meeting in Turkey between both sides to finalize a peace agreement, and a revised proposal for a 90-day reduction in violence.
However, along with these proposals, Blinken made clear that the United States is considering all options regarding Afghanistan, including the May 1st deadline for full withdrawal.
This letter is reportedly similar to one shared with the chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah.
Further, Blinken writes that even with the continuation of the US financial assistance to Afghan forces after an American withdrawal, he is “concerned that the security situation will worsen, and that the Taliban could make rapid territorial gains” and that he shares this so that President Ghani “understands the urgency of my tone regarding the collective work outlined in this letter.”
