President Hamid Karzai, leading a high-level delegation, left for Doha, capital of Qatar Sunday afternoon to attend the 10th annual US-Islamic World Forum.
President Karzai is scheduled to deliver a speech on Sunday at the Forum about Afghanistan’s vision on regional and international issues.
During this visit, the President will meet with Qatari officials to discuss Afghanistan’s peace process and bilateral relations between the two countries.
This year’s forum is titled “A Decade of Dialogue”, which is to be held on 9 June 2013 in Doha, representing its ongoing commitment to fostering improved relations between the United States and Muslim societies around the world. The Forum will also focus on the changing landscape in Afghanistan and Pakistan, assessing how it will affect internal and regional security.
On this visit, the President is accompanied by Foreign Minister Dr. Zalmai Rasoul, National Security Advisor Dr. Spanta, Head of High Peace Council Salahuddin Rabbani, Presidential Advisor in International Relations Yahya Marufi, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President Homaira Ludin Etmadi and President’s Spokesperson Aimal Faizi.
President Karzai had met the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani in March this year to consider the opening of a Taliban office in the Gulf state.
Karzai and Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani discussed about various issues of mutual interest.
The opening of a Taliban office is seen as a step in formulating a channel for talks between Kabul and the Taliban.
US-led Western troops are due to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
The Afghan security forces will take over full security responsibility, after the foreign troops leave the country.
Last week, the Chairperson of the Afghan High Peace Council Salahuddin Rabbani said that the Council is ready for direct peace talks with the Taliban.
Salahuddin Rabbani said that further consultations are going on with the political parties, civil societies and women to chalk out a strategy for the talks.
Earlier this year, speaking at a gathering held for evaluating the progress made and challenges in the peace process of Afghanistan, Rabbani looked optimistic about direct peace talks with the Taliban.
This development happened after the Afghan President Hamid Karzai talked to the US Secretary of State John F. Kerry on Sunday regarding peace process.
Speaking over phone, President Karzai told John Kerry that the peace process should not be a victim of foreign plots.
Karzai’s office said that some countries are trying to control the peace talks to achieve their goals.
The opening of an office for the Taliban is seen as a major step in formulating a channel to carry out talks between Kabul and the Group.
Taliban delegation visits Iran:
A senior delegation of the Taliban was invited by Iran to negotiate with the Iranian officials in the month of May.
The delegation was led by Sayed Taib Agha and Mohammad Ullah Nomanee, the Taliban representatives in Qatar and Shamsuddin Pahlawan respectively. The former Taliban Governor of the Maidan Wardak province was also among the delegation.
The Taliban’s Spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi had confirmed that a senior delegation was invited by Iran to negotiate with the Iranian officials.
Speaking over phone to TOLOnews from an undisclosed location, Qari Yousef Ahmadi had said that the delegation was on a three-day visit to Iran.
He said that previously also a Taliban delegation including some of its senior leaders had visited Iran for talks.
Tolonews
Tags: attend, for, Forum, Karzai, leaves, Qatar, to, US-Islamic, World
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