ISLAMABAD: American negotiators have urged the Taliban to agree to a 10-day cease-fire amid talks in Qatar, saying the peace process could be stopped again if the militant group does not comply.
Taliban sources, who have knowledge of the developments, told Arab News the US side gave the warning as the talks resumed last week, after a three-month suspension by President Donald Trump.
US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad tweeted on Dec. 13 that he has taken a “brief pause” for the Taliban to consult their leadership about his demand for a reduction in violence.
He said he had expressed “outrage” over a Taliban attack on Bagram air base in Kabul on Dec. 11, which killed two and wounded dozens of civilians, asking the Taliban “to show they are willing and able to respond to Afghan desire for peace.”
According to Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen, the militant group had sought a few days’ break to hold consultations. He said Taliban negotiators had raised the issue of night raids, drone strikes and aerial bombings by the US-led foreign forces when the US bemoaned the Bagram attack.
A Taliban official said Americans have called for a 10-day cease-fire and “threatened to call off talks.”
“The US side has floated the idea to sign a peace agreement during the cease-fire,” the official said while requesting not to be identified as he is not authorized to speak to the media.
“They (Taliban negotiators in Qatar) have now prepared recommendations for the leadership, which will take a final decision. The leaders will decide whether or not to accept the cease-fire proposal,” he said, adding that “Americans want ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the proposal and they say there will be no talks unless the cease-fire is declared.”
Khalilzad returned to Qatar after his meetings with Pakistani officials last week weekend, but the peace talks have yet to resume.
“Status hasn’t changed,” an American source familiar with the US-Taliban talks in Doha told Arab News on Monday.
Shaheen in an earlier interview with Arab News said the Taliban would declare a cease-fire with the US and its NATO allies after the peace agreement is signed.
The Taliban and the US had finalized the peace agreement in August at the conclusion of the ninth round of talks, but the signing was blocked when Trump put a pause on the process, following an attack in Kabul which killed 12 people, including an American soldier.
As the US and Taliban are accusing each other of violence and halting the talks, senior Republican Senator Lindsey Graham met Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad on Monday to discuss the Afghan conflict.
Graham chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee and is a senior member of the Armed Services, Appropriations and Budget Committees of the US Senate.
Khan assured the US senator Pakistan would continue to play its facilitating role in the Afghan peace and reconciliation process, while emphasizing the value of peace and stability in Afghanistan for Pakistan’s development, a statement by the PM Office said.
This was Graham’s second visit to Pakistan in 2019.
US demands Taliban declare 10-day cease-fire to save peace talks
https://arab.news/zvcav
US demands Taliban declare 10-day cease-fire to save peace talks
- US warns talks could be called off if there is no cease-fire, Taliban sources say
- Taliban raise the issue of night raids, drone strikes and aerial bombings by US-led forces
Pakistan, ADB sign $730 loan agreements to boost SOE reforms, energy infrastructure
- Both sign $330 million Power Transmission Strengthening Project and $400 million SOE Transformation Program loan agreements
- Economic Affairs Division official says Transmission Project will secure Pakistan’s energy future by strengthening national grid’s backbone
KARACHI: Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday signed two loan agreements totaling $730 million to boost reforms in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and energy infrastructure in the country, the bank said.
The first of the two agreements pertains to the SOE Transformation Program worth $400 million while the second loan, worth $330 million, is for a Power Transmission Strengthening Project, the lender said.
The agreements were signed by ADB Country Director for Pakistan Emma Fan and Pakistan’s Secretary of Economic Affairs Division Humair Karim.
“The agreements demonstrate ADB’s enduring commitment to supporting sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Pakistan,” the ADB said.
Pakistan’s SOEs have incurred losses worth billions of dollars over the years due to financial mismanagement and corruption. These entities, including the country’s national airline Pakistan International Airlines, which was sold to a private group this week, have relied on subsequent government bailouts over the years to operate.
The ADB approved the $400 million loan for SOE reforms on Dec. 12. It said the program seeks to improve governance and optimize the performance of Pakistan’s commercial SOEs.
Karim highlighted that the Power Transmission Strengthening Project will enable reliable evacuation of 2,300 MW from Pakistan’s upcoming hydropower projects, relieve overloading of existing transmission lines and enhance resilience under contingency conditions, the Press Information Department (PID) said.
“The Secretary emphasized that both initiatives are transformative in nature as the Transmission Project will secure Pakistan’s energy future by strengthening the backbone of the national grid whereas the SOE Program will enhance transparency, efficiency and sustainability of state-owned enterprises nationwide,” the PID said.
The ADB has supported reforms by Pakistan to strengthen its public finance and social protection systems. It has also undertaken programs in the country to help with post-flood reconstruction, improve food security and social and human capital.
To date, ADB says it has committed 764 public sector loans, grants and technical assistance totaling $43.4 billion to Pakistan.
