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Afghan Rivals Begin Historic Peace Talks; US Cautiously Optimistic

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD - The United States pressed Afghanistan's warring factions
   Saturday to approach their first-ever direct peace talks with an intent
   to strike a power-sharing deal that would accommodate "competing views"
   and permanently end decades of bloodshed in the country.
   U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made the remarks at a special
   ceremony in Doha, Qatar, marking the start of the U.S.-brokered
   dialogue, known as intra-Afghan negotiations, between delegates of the
   Taliban insurgency and the government of Afghanistan.
   "Today is a truly momentous occasion. Afghans have at long last chosen
   to sit together and chart a new course for your country. This is a
   moment to dare to hope," Pompeo said.
   He cautioned that the intra-Afghan talks will "undoubtedly encounter
   many challenges" because of decades of divisions, but the two sides
   will need to "be patient" to seize the opportunity of writing the next
   chapter in the history of Afghanistan.
   "We hope this chapter is one of reconciliation and progress, not
   another chronicle of tears and bloodshed. We urge you to make decisions
   that move you away from violence and corruption and toward peace and
   prosperity," stressed Pompeo.

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