Blinken proposes plan to speed up peace course of in Afghanistan | Battle Information

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has written to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani suggesting ways to accelerate Afghanistan’s deadlocked peace process in Afghanistan and achieve a permanent ceasefire.

In the letter on US President Joe Biden’s government strategy, Blinken suggested convening a United Nations-backed conference with foreign ministers and envoys from Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, India and the United States in order to take a unified approach Support to discuss peace in Afghanistan “.

The letter, released on Sunday by TOLOnews, an Afghan news agency, also said US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad had been asked “to submit written proposals to expedite discussions on a negotiated settlement and a ceasefire” with the Ghani leaders and Taliban to share.

Blinken said these documents would allow the government in Kabul and the Taliban to develop principles that guide the country’s constitutional and intergovernmental arrangements, develop a roadmap for a new, inclusive government, and develop the conditions for a permanent ceasefire.

Exclusive: US Secretary Antony Blinken presents in a letter to President Ghani – similar to one shared with Chairman Abdullah – four proposals for the Afghan peace process (see thread): pic.twitter.com/L5fYa09Y2g

– TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) March 7, 2021

In addition, the US will urge Turkey to hold a high-level meeting between both sides in the coming weeks to conclude a peace deal, the letter said.

Blinken went on to say that a revised proposal for a 90-day violence reduction “to prevent a Taliban spring offensive” and “to support a political agreement between the parties” was being prepared.

The top US diplomat concluded his letter by stating that Washington had not ruled out any option regarding Afghanistan, including the complete withdrawal of its forces by May 1.

“Even with the continued financial support from the United States to your armed forces after an American military withdrawal, I am concerned that the security situation will deteriorate and that the Taliban could make rapid territorial gains,” said Blinken.

“I am making this clear to you so that you will understand the urgency of my tone in relation to the collective work described in this letter.”

James Bays reported from the UN headquarters in New York, the diplomatic editor of Al Jazeera, that Blinken had ended the letter with a “terrifying message”.

“In other words, he is telling the Afghan government that we will go through a quick process and that you had better get on board or the American forces could depart and you could be overthrown by the Taliban,” Bays said.

Violence and targeted killings have increased since the Afghan government began US-backed negotiations with the Taliban last September. Western security officials said the armed group, which already owns large swaths of rural areas, has begun to gain a foothold in cities and towns.

On Saturday, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said his government was ready to discuss the possibility of new elections to advance peace talks with the Taliban [File: Afghan Presidential Palace/ Handout via Reuters]

“The key is the vote of the Afghan people”

U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration has begun a review of its strategy for Afghanistan, including an agreement with the Taliban in Qatar’s capital Doha in early 2020 that paved the way for talks between the armed group and the Afghan government.

On Saturday, Ghani said his government was ready to discuss the possibility of new elections to advance peace talks with the Taliban.

“Transfer of power through elections is a non-negotiable principle for us,” said Ghani at the opening of the parliamentary session in Kabul.

“We stand ready to discuss holding free, fair and inclusive elections under the auspices of the international community. We can also talk about the date of the elections and come to a conclusion. “

Ghani met with Khalilzad in Kabul last week to discuss ways to get the stalled peace negotiations with Taliban officials in Qatar going. After his talks in Kabul, Khalilzad went to Doha.

Afghan officials and Western diplomats said during his visit to Kabul that Khalilzad put the idea of ​​forming a transitional government into practice after bringing Afghan and Taliban leaders together in a multilateral conference outside the country.

But Ghani said the only way to form a government should be through elections.

“I advise those who go to this or that gate to gain power that political power in Afghanistan has a gate and the key is the vote of the Afghan people,” he said.

“Any institution can write a fantasy on a piece of paper and propose a solution for Afghanistan. These papers were written in the past and will be written in the future. Our guarantee is our constitution. “

On Saturday, Taliban spokesman Naeem Wardak confirmed a meeting between the armed group Khalilzad and General Scott Miller, chief of the US armed forces, and the NATO-led Resolute Support mission without combat.

“Both sides have expressed their commitment to the Doha Agreement and discussed its full implementation. The current situation in Afghanistan and the speed and effectiveness of the intra-Afghan negotiations were also discussed, ”said Wardak.

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