Peace negotiations are continuing in the Qatari capital, Doha, between the Taliban and the Afghan government, amid international and regional welcome for the two parties' declaration of their seriousness in searching for a solution that brings peace and stability.

The launch of the opening session witnessed the participation of foreign ministers of a number of countries, in addition to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the American and Russian envoys to Afghanistan and ambassadors of a large number of countries of the world.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement regarding the negotiations that began earlier in the day, while the Taliban leadership made statements in which they confirmed their efforts to bring peace to the country.

The first round of intra-Afghan negotiations discuss basic issues, among them the form of the state and its political system.

During the opening ceremony, the US Secretary of State addressed the Afghans, saying, "It is up to you to choose your political system." "We fully believe that protecting the rights of all Afghans is the best way for you to get out of the cycle of violence."

A statement by the US State Department said that Secretary Pompeo urged the President of the Supreme Council for National Reconciliation in Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah and the Taliban delegation to seize the opportunity he described as historic to reach a political settlement and a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire.

Pompeo welcomed the efforts of the Afghan leadership to end the war and ensure that Afghanistan did not pose a threat to the United States or its allies.

The US Secretary of State attended the opening session of the negotiations and met with the Taliban delegation (Getty Images)

Love and brotherhood

As for Taliban leader Mullah Brader Akhund, he said that Afghanistan should be based on "an Islamic system, in which all tribes and ethnicities find themselves without discrimination, and live in love and brotherhood."

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, political deputy to the Taliban leader, said that the movement wanted to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan, and that the points of disagreement were taken into consideration.

He added that the interests of all spectrums of the Afghan people must be taken into consideration.

He stressed the need for negotiations to proceed in the interest of Afghanistan and its people, and called on the international community to support negotiations to achieve the unity of Afghanistan and to ensure progress and development in it.

For his part, the head of the Afghan Reconciliation Committee, Abdullah Abdullah, said that the Afghan people hope for the success of the peace negotiations, and indicated that this day will be remembered as the end of the suffering of their people, thanking the Taliban for their response.

Abdullah added that the Afghan people hope to end the war and establish a constitutional system that will achieve stability in the country, stressing that the current conflict is not victorious, and all are losers if they do not respond to the will of the people.

What America is asking for

The US special envoy to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, said preventing terrorism is a prerequisite, but protecting the rights of women and minorities will also affect any future decision on funding for Congress.

"There is no blank check," he added.

He stressed that the peace negotiations will be between the Afghan parties, and the United States will not dictate any formula to them.

In an interview with Al-Jazeera, Khalilzad said that the opportunity is great to achieve peace, but the cost of failure will be high, as he put it.

He added that he wants a ceasefire in Afghanistan before next April, when all US forces will be withdrawn from the country.

Guterres: Afghanistan peace negotiations present an excellent opportunity to achieve stability and peace (French)

The world is talking

During the opening session, Qatari Foreign Minister Muhammad bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani said that he hoped the envoys would serve the Afghan people, adding that his country would spare no effort to support the Afghan peace negotiations, along with international efforts.

The Qatari minister emphasized that the only way to end the conflict in Afghanistan is to cease fire and start dialogue, noting that the Afghan peace agreement must be based on: neither a victor nor a loser.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi described the Afghan peace negotiations as a historical moment, and said that there is no military solution to the status quo in Afghanistan, and called on the international community to continue supporting the peace process to make it a success.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said that the Afghanistan peace negotiations represent an excellent opportunity to achieve stability, peace and development in the country.

He called for the peace process to include all groups, and to intensify efforts to protect civilians.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg described the Afghan peace talks as a historic opportunity, and said that these talks constitute the best chance for peace.

For its part, the Iranian Foreign Ministry welcomed the start of the Afghan peace negotiations in Doha, and expressed its hope that the Afghan parties would reach a common understanding that would guarantee stability and lasting peace in Afghanistan and the region, without the interference of any external parties.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry warned of what it described as the US administration’s attempts to exploit these talks to achieve its goals in the US presidential elections.

Tehran has also expressed its willingness to provide assistance to advance the peace process in Afghanistan.