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Afghan Peace Talks Resume in Doha Amid Calls to Reduce Violence

Ayesha Tanzeem

   ISLAMABAD - A team of Afghans arrived Tuesday afternoon in the capital
   of Qatar to resume peace talks with the Taliban after a three-week
   break amid rising calls for a reduction in violence.

   "The current levels of violence, including targeted killings, is
   unacceptable," tweeted Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. diplomat who
   negotiated with the Taliban to deliver a deal between the U.S. and the
   insurgent group in February.

   Mohammed Masoom Stanekzai, the man leading the Afghan delegation, said
   achieving a cease-fire would be the top priority for this team. The
   Taliban has continued to resist that demand.

   Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem said a discussion on "a general
   cease-fire will be one of the agenda items" but not necessarily the
   first item.

   According to the U.S.-Taliban deal, he added, "there is no order of
   priority and no specific time as to when the issue of cease-fire will
   be decided."

   The issue of cease-fire took center stage after violence in Afghanistan
   surged following the U.S. deal with the Taliban. While the insurgent
   group stopped direct attacks on foreign forces, it increased targeting
   Afghan security forces.

   Zia Seraj, the director general of Afghanistan's intelligence agency,
   told the Afghan senate last month the Taliban were responsible for 99
   percent of the 18,200 attacks in Afghanistan since the deal was
   reached.

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