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Indonesia hails ‘first step’ in US-Taliban peace deal
Indonesia hailed the signing of a landmark peace deal between the United States and the Afghan Taliban in Qatar over the weekend, with its top diplomat calling it a “first step” forward in the ongoing peace process.
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Members of the Taliban delegation gather ahead of the signing ceremony with the United States in the Qatari capital Doha, on Feb. 29. Washington and the Taliban signed a landmark deal in Doha that had them agree to the withdrawal of thousands of US troops from Afghanistan in return for insurgent guarantees. (AFP/Giuseppe CACACE)
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ndonesia hailed the signing of a peace deal between the United States and the Afghan Taliban in Qatar over the weekend, calling it a “first step” forward in the ongoing peace process.
The Taliban's political chief met with senior diplomats from countries including Russia, Indonesia and Norway, hours after signing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) deal with Washington aimed at ending the Afghan war, the hard-line Islamist group said in a statement on Sunday.
Saturday's accord was signed in the Qatari capital Doha by US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on hand to witness the ceremony.
Soon after the agreement, US President Donald Trump said he would be personally meeting leaders of the Taliban in the near future and rejected criticism surrounding the deal signed with the Islamist insurgents.
Baradar met foreign ministers from Turkey, Uzbekistan and Norway in Doha along with diplomats from Russia, Indonesia and neighboring nations, the Taliban said, a move that signaled the group's determination to secure international legitimacy.
"The dignitaries who met Mullah Baradar expressed their commitments toward Afghanistan's reconstruction and development," said Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid as quoted by Reuters. "The US-Taliban agreement is historic."
"Baradar received congratulatory messages and thanked them [ministers and diplomats] for attending the ceremony," he said.
