Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The joint decision of the delegations of Kabul and the Taliban Movement on a three-week break in the inter-Afghan dialogue for internal coordination of the draft agenda of the upcoming negotiations presented by the parties received a wide response. The dialogue is scheduled to resume on 5 January 2021.

Commenting on this decision, US special envoy Z. Khalilzad pointed to the extreme importance of resuming negotiations without delay on 5 January 2020.

I. Journalists of the Afghan edition of Tolo News, having access to the draft requirements of the parties to the negotiations, highlight the following key points.

The Afghab government has outlined the following requirements:

first, the focus should be on security and a permanent ceasefire throughout the country;

secondly, it is necessary to focus on the development of the education system, health care, agriculture and the service sector, the security of infrastructure projects.

At the same time, Kabul stated that these requirements were formed taking into account national interests, both on the basis of Islamic and democratic values, in view of the importance of ensuring the rights and legal freedoms of citizens, preserving the achievements of Afghans over the past 19 years, as well as obtaining international guarantees for the implementation of peace agreements.

Proceeding from this, Kabul demands to establish the following sequence of issues during the negotiations: 1) a ceasefire and the creation of a mechanism for monitoring its observance; 2) strengthening the national defense and security forces; 3) the eradication of drugs; 4) expulsion of foreign fighters and terrorist groups from the country; 5) demilitarization of territories; 6) formation of a common vision of the country's development, based on Islamic and democratic values; 7) fight against any kind of corruption in society; 8) compliance with international obligations of Afghanistan.

In turn, the delegation of Taliban insists on the following order of priority in the consideration of issues: a) determination of the structure of the Islamic government; b) creation of an Islamic council and ensuring the rights of women and all citizens on the basis of Islamic principles and national traditions; c) ensuring independence, unity and Islamic solidarity in Afghanistan; d) guaranteeing freedom of expression on Islamic principles; e) drug eradication; f) elimination of moral decay and corruption; g) permanent ceasefire.

II. Against this background, Kabul made an appeal to hold talks with Taliban on the territory of Afghanistan. So, on 12 December 2020, Afghan President's National Security Advisor H. Muhib said that the next rounds of peace talks between the delegations of the IRA and the Taliban should be held in Afghanistan. At the same time, he added that the Afghan government is ready to negotiate with the Taliban in any part of the country that they offer.

As H. Muhib noted, the talks in Afghanistan itself will strengthen confidence in the peace process and provide the Afghans with an opportunity to monitor and control the ongoing dialogue. It will also make it easier for delegates to know about people's requirements and prevent additional costs. According to H. Muhib, peace will thus become national and lasting and will be influenced by the realities of the Afghan community, and not by the demands of foreigners.

On 14 December 2020, Afghan President A. Ghani supported the statement of H. Muhib and also said that the next round of negotiations should be held in Afghanistan. As the leader of the country put it, “when the Taliban say they are on Afghan soil, why are they not negotiating on Afghan soil?” He confirmed that the Afghan government is ready to negotiate with the Taliban in any area of Afghanistan that the group chooses.

However, the Taliban opposed the appeal of the Afghan President A. Ghani, saying that this request signals the fear of Kabul. The representative of Taliban M. Naim said that "violators of the peace process", putting forward such a demand, see their power and personal interest in danger. Delegations from both sides will resume their meetings in Doha on 5 January 2021, he said.

Meanwhile, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said that holding the next round of talks in Afghanistan will be the key to progress in the peace process. According to the press secretary of the ministry G. Hevad, "the continuation of peace talks in the country gives the Taliban an opportunity to get acquainted with the realities of Afghanistan, the high level of violence and the pain people are experiencing."

In general, in light of the clarification of the positions of Kabul and Taliban on the peace process, in the near future the delegations of the parties will hold consultations with their leaders and "patrons" on the issues of negotiations, the disagreement of which could lead to a delay in the start of the next round of dialogue. In this context, attention is drawn to the information about the beginning from 16 December 2020 of a three-day visit of the Taliban to Pakistan.