China News Service, September 14 reported that the first peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban kicked off in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The talks aimed to end the country's nearly 20-year war and conflict.

According to Agence France-Presse, the contact group between the two sides held its first meeting on the 13th. The Afghan government is cautiously optimistic about making progress on difficult issues. At the same time, negotiators warned that the negotiation task is arduous and the process may be full of chaos.

　　According to reports, the Afghan government posted on social media that the first meeting between the contact group of negotiators of the two parties was held on the 13th local time.

The two parties have discussed the agenda and code of conduct for the negotiations, but did not disclose the details of the next steps.

　　Taliban spokesman Naim also confirmed the convening of the meeting.

He said that the contact group between the Afghan government and the Taliban negotiating team held their first meeting on the evening of the 13th local time to discuss the agenda, guidelines, schedule and other issues related to direct peace negotiations.

　　At the opening ceremony on the 12th, US Secretary of State Pompeo, who made a special flight to Doha to attend the ceremony, described the peace talks as "historic."

He said, “Although there is no one-size-fits-all solution, we firmly believe that protecting the rights and interests of all Afghan people is the best way to break the cycle of violence.”

　　"Each of you has a great responsibility," Pompeo said.

"You have a chance to overcome differences."

　　According to reports, both Afghanistan and the Taliban have a positive attitude towards the peace talks.

The chief negotiator of the Afghan government stated that there was a "positive spirit" in the negotiations.

Taliban negotiator Abdul Salam Hanafi said: "We not only want a ceasefire, but also an end to the war."

　　On February 29, 2020, the United States and the Taliban signed a peace agreement in Doha.

According to the agreement, the talks were originally scheduled to be held in March, but the two sides have been shelved since they were unable to reach a consensus on the mutual release of detainees.

Although we are now back to the negotiating table, many foreign media pointed out that the positions of the Afghan government and the Taliban are quite different and it may be difficult to reach a peace agreement in a short time.

　　Analysts believe that the biggest challenge in the Afghanistan peace talks lies in whether the two sides can reach a ceasefire first.

According to the agreement reached between the U.S. government and the Taliban, the Taliban regard the realization of a permanent ceasefire as "an agenda" in the peace talks, and the Afghan government hopes that the ceasefire will be its top priority at the beginning of the peace talks.