display
Doha / Kabul (dpa) - More than two months after the start of the Afghan peace negotiations, the conflicting parties have reported important progress for the first time.
The extremists' spokesman Mohammed Naeem announced on Saturday that negotiators for the militant Islamist Taliban and the government had clarified key procedural issues in Qatar.
Kabul's negotiators confirmed their agreement in principle, but it was not yet official.
The bitterly poor country has to struggle with droughts, devastating corona consequences and, above all, conflicts.
The Taliban are fighting the West-backed government.
display
Both sides of the conflict agreed on 21 principles for the actual substantive negotiations on November 15th.
However, the government's negotiating delegation said that “further discussion and clarification” was required.
The agreement still has to be confirmed by a meeting of both negotiating teams.
So far, both parties have usually met in small groups.
The government had recently denied reports from the Afghan broadcaster Tolonews about a breakthrough.
Government spokesman Sedik Sedikki said Wednesday that some of the Taliban's demands were incompatible with the constitution.
Sedikki didn't give any details.
At a virtual donor conference on Tuesday, the international community promised Afghanistan further billions in aid over the next four years.
The willingness to donate decreased, however.
The donor countries also made development aid dependent on the future of the peace talks.
After decades of conflict, the country remains dependent on humanitarian aid.
display
The Taliban have been talking to representatives of the Afghan Republic about peace since September 12th.
The process had stalled in the dispute over procedural issues.
The Taliban continue to reject a ceasefire.
The host country Qatar had taken on the role of mediator.
The conflict in the country continues brutally.
At the end of February, the Taliban signed an agreement with the United States that provides for a gradual withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.
The peace negotiations are the most important concession the US has won from the Taliban.
In return, the Islamists pledged to cut ties with other terrorists.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 201128-99-499447 / 2