New round of Afghan-Taliban peace talks off to a slow start

latest round of peace talks between Taliban and Afghan government negotiators that began this week in Qatar has been off to a slow start as concerns grow over a recent spike in violence across Afghanistan.

talks, which are taking place in Qatar where Taliban maintain a political office, resumed on Tuesday but n journed until Saturday, in part because chief Taliban negotiator was in Pakistan.

A senior US defense official was also in Pakistan and met country's powerful military leership on Friday. According to a US Embassy statement, meeting between military and acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs David Helvey affirmed an urgent need for a reduction in violence in Afghanistan.

Both sides “discussed urgency of reducing violence and restarting meaningful negotiations between Islamic Republic negotiators and Taliban,” said statement.

Helvey also told Pakistan's Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Sahir Shamsh Mirza that Washington was committed “to a long-term, mutually beneficial security partnership with Pakistan” and wanted to strengn cooperation on counterterrorism, statement ded.

Pakistan wields significant influence over Taliban and has been key in getting m to negotiating table. Islamab has repeatedly called for a reduction in violence, but has also said fighting must be reduced from Afghan government side as well.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Barar, Taliban leer who negotiated a US-Taliban deal struck last February, and chief Taliban negotiator Mullah Hakim were in Pakistan until Wednesday, though little is kwn of ir activities here. Taliban leership council is hequartered in Pakistan's souastern city of Quetta.

US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilz has warned both sides against squandering opportunity at peace and has been pressing for a reduction in violence that would le to a cease-fire.

According to one Taliban official, who spoke on condition of anymity because he was t authorized to speak to media, said Taliban don't trust Afghan government. Taliban spokesman Mohamm Naeem appeared to rule out an immediate cease-fire.

Naeem told Associated Press on Friday nda of talks in Qatar has yet to be finalized. “re is specific time as to when issue of a cease-fire will be decided," he said.

Analysts say that while government prioritizes a cease-fire, Taliban want to kw what a post-war Afghanistan would look like, as well as a power-sharing arrangement. peace talks are supposed set a romap for a post-war Afghanistan in which Taliban would have a political role.

However, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani this week ruled out an interim government with Taliban, according to Afghan media reports. Ghani also did t meet with Khalilz during his visit to Kabul this week.

“ benefit of a coalition governance structure, which includes Taliban is that y can continue negotiations from within power structure for overhaul of legislative, executive and judiciary pillars of country,” said Torek Farhi, a former viser to government and political analyst.