Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Afghans Remain Skeptical About U.S.-Taliban Talks

Ayaz Gul

   BHURBAN, PAKISTAN - Senior government and opposition leaders in
   Afghanistan have warned that armed hostilities in the country will
   continue if ongoing negotiations between the United States and the
   Taliban fail to jump-start a sustainable intra-Afghan peace dialogue.

   The warning comes as U.S. and Taliban negotiators are scheduled to
   begin the next round in their months-long talks on June 29 amid high
   hopes the two adversaries would finalize a draft text that would pave
   the way for ending the 17-year-old Afghan war.

   "The negotiations are useful but they are not enough because they have
   not produced any positive outcome so far," said presidential candidate
   Gulbuddin Hekmatyar while addressing a conference of about 60 top
   Afghan dignitaries hosted by Pakistan on Saturday.

   Hekmatyar noted that there was a lack of consensus in Afghanistan on
   the withdrawal of U.S.-led NATO forces from the country, and gave the
   foreign military presence as the primary reason for the war. He said
   Afghans would have to jointly determine an appropriate timeline for all
   international troops to leave the country through an internal dialogue
   process involving state, opposition and Taliban negotiators.

   "(The) Taliban also will have to categorically announce they believe in
   elections and reaching to power through the elections, and they will
   give an undertaking not try to use other means to seize power,"
   Hekmatyar noted.

   Troop withdrawal

   The Taliban maintains its negotiations with U.S. interlocutors are
   focused on the troop withdrawal in return for assurances
   insurgent-controlled Afghan areas would not be allowed to become safe
   haven for transnational terrorists.

   The U.S. is also pressing the Taliban to commit to engaging in an
   intra-Afghan peace process and to cease hostilities. But insurgents
   want Washington to announce a withdrawal timetable before they discuss
   these issues.

.