Ashraf Ghani approves 48 Reconciliation Council members for intra-Afghan talks

In a promising development in preparation of intra-Afghan talks with Taliban, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in a decree on August 29 approved 48 members of High Council for National Reconciliation led by Abdullah Abdullah. Ghani also called on religious scholars, parliament, private sector, media and provincial councils to introduce ir own selections for membership of council within upcoming week. 

ANI has reported that members of council announced in decree include many personalities such as country’s former president Hamid Karzai, former mujahideen leer Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, Hizb-e-Islami leer Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, former vice president Mohamm Karim Khalili former deputy chief executive Mohamm Mohaqiq among many ors. 

decree, as reported by media, said leership members of council include -- Abdullah Abdullah, he of High Council for National Reconciliation, Abdul Salam Rahimi deputy he of council, Enayatullah Farahmand deputy he of council, Asullah Saati deputy he of council, Zuhra Mutahari former deputy governor of Paktia, member of Afghanistan Ulema Council Atta-Ur-Rahman Salim, he of Hizb-e-Islami Nawin Din Mohamm, political figure Akram Khpulwak, he of negotiation team Mohamm Masoom Stanekzai, special presidential envoy Noor-Ul-Haq Olumi.

As per agreement signed between Afghan government and Abdullah nack in May, it was Ghani’s responsibility to authorise members of High Council for National reconciliation by issuing a decree. This High Council of Government that will be established, agreement states, is to ensure political consensus in nation and members will be political leers and national figures.  

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Negotiations to start this week in Doha

This comes after Abdullah and or top leers h said earlier that US-backed intra-Afghan talks with Taliban are expected to start in this week and first roundtable talks are expected to be conducted in Doha, Qatar. It would also mark beginning of ending years-long conflict in nation. Abdullah Abdullah, who will le Afghan’s High Council for National Reconciliation h said in a seminar in Kabul that team is “well prepared” to enter negotiations. 

Meanwhile, international media agency h also reported that Taliban’s chief has finalised a negotiating team for ir side and is said to have sweeping decision-making powers. Group’s top negotiator, Maulvi Hibatullah Akhunza told AP that he has personally selected 20-member team including 13 from Taliban's leership council, that is, around half of council's total members.

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(With inputs from agencies)

(Image: AP)