After a series of failed attempts at talks by Afghans and their Western allies, in November Afghan President Hamid Karzai ruled out negotiations with the Taleban until the insurgent group had an address at which he could contact them.
“What we heard from senior Taleban commanders and their relatives, is they agreed on a political office,” Arsala Rahmani, a member of Afghanistan’s High Peace Council told Reuters on Sunday. “It would be better to establish one inside Afghanistan if the situation allows.”
“We agree and have always called for a political address for the Taleban either in Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia or any Islamic countries and it is in our interest,” Rahmani said.
Last week, Afghanistan recalled its ambassador to Qatar hours after an Indian newspaper reported that arrangements had been put in place for a Taleban office in the Gulf state.
The report caused worry in Kabul that the Afghan government would be excluded from the peace process if another country was used as a the base for talks.
The United States wants to seek a political settlement to an expensive, decade-long war, but Afghan officials insist that they must lead the process.
“Establishment of a political address of an office for the Taleban is very crucial and will have a great impact on the peace process,” Rahmani said.
“Since the Taleban have no address, it is important to create a political address where we could talk about peace agendas face to face,” he said.
The Taleban have not commented on the possibility of their opening an office.
The High Peace Council was established by Karzai in 2010 to build contacts with the Taleban, and ultimately to find a political settlement to the war.
The Taleban have rejected any peace deal and in September a Taleban suicide bomber killed Burhanuddin Rabbani, head of the government peace council.
Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of supporting the Taleban, and has said that the Rabbani’s killer was sent from the Pakistani city of Quetta. Karzai has said that “until we have an address for the Taleban” he would talk only to Pakistan.
Analysts say Pakistan, worried about growing influence of old rival India in Afghanistan, sees the Taleban as its best tool to try to secure a pro-Pakistani government in Kabul after foreign forces withdraw.
