Afghanistan's armed opposition on Tuesday said it was not optimistic about UN-sponsored peace talks with the ruling Taliban militia announced last week.
The United Nations special envoy to Afghanistan, Francesc Vendrell said Friday the Taliban and opposition commander Ahmad Shah Masood had agreed to indirect peace talks under UN auspices.
"Mr. Vendrell sounds optimistic but we do not see any grounds to be so," opposition spokesman and top Masood aide told AFP by satellite telephone from northern Afghanistan.
"We believe this is not something new. It has been our initial position to seek peace through talks with the United Nations having the central role."
Previous negotiations, including a round organized by the Organization of the Islamic Conference earlier this year, have failed to produce results and the bitter civil war continues in Afghanistan's rugged northeast.
Vendrell said the two sides had agreed to a "process of dialogue ... aimed at bringing about, in the shortest possible time, an end to the armed conflict in Afghanistan through political means."
He claimed the difference between these and previous talks was that their agreement was set in writing.
Taliban Deputy Information Minister Abdurrahman Ahmad Hotak on Sunday also said the agreement was nothing new, adding: "We have always wanted serious talks and sincere talks."
The Taliban, encouraged by their military triumphs which have given them control over some 90 percent of the country, want Masood to give up his "illegitimate resistance."
But the opposition has refused to surrender, saying it represents the ousted government of Burhanuddin Rabbani which still holds Afghanistan's seat at the UN.
Ordinary Afghans also refuse to pin much hope on the talks, which could begin as early as this month.
"We have heard of such preparations and such gatherings for the past two decades, but nothing has changed on the ground," said driver Mohammad Daud.
Mohammad Sharif, a teacher, said the wars which have scarred Afghanistan in one form or the other since the 1979-89 Soviet invasion were being stoked by the country's neighbors.
"Even if the internal parties have good intentions, it seems tough to find a solution," he said.
The Taliban, who drove Rabbani and defense minister Masood from Kabul in 1996, accuse the opposition of receiving backing from Iran and Russia, while Masood says the Taliban's ranks are boosted by Pakistanis and Arabs – KABUL (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
