Afghan politicians meet to discuss peace process

Kabul, Jan 26 (IANS) Prominent Afghan political figures gathered in Kabul to discuss the participation of all the countrys political factions in the ongoing peace process.

The meeting, which was held on Saturday at the residence of Mohammad Mohaqiq, the second deputy of Chief Executive Abdullah Abullah, brought together several key politicians, including former President Hamid Karzai, former Vice President Mohammad Younus Qanooni, and the head of the High Peace Council (HPC), Mohammad Karim Khalili, reports TOLO News.

Speaking on the occasion, Abdullah said that no one should strive to obstruct the peace process for his personal agenda and should instead work on creating a consensus on the issue.

"It's better to involve all," said Abdullah, adding that no one should be allowed to exploit the process for their own personal agenda.

Addressing the gathering, Qanooni said that the Afghan politicians have prepared a peace plan that can help end the decades-long conflict in the country.

"The plan, which is intended to be an outline by the Afghan politicians, is a plan for the Afghan people who seek to achieve peace," he added.

Meanwhile, Karzai said: "We sat together to exchange views on the settlement of the conflict in Afghanistan."

The meeting came a few days after President Ashraf Ghani, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, accused Karzai and Abdullah of having no plan for peace in Afghanistan.

This meting came amid talks between the US and the Taliban have entered into a reportedly advanced phase and was expected that the two sides seal a peace deal soon.

A possible US-Taliban agreement is expected to pave the way for intra-Afghan peace talks between the Taliban and Ghani's government.

The Taliban have for long rejected to hold any official and direct talks with the Afghan government before it reaches an agreement with the US on its troop withdrawal from the country.