Despite ongoing talks on ways to peace in Afghanistan, violence continues in the country. Shortly before the beginning of a „German-Afghan Dialogue Conference“ organized by Germany and Qatar in the Gulf Emirate of Qatar, at least twelve people were killed in the explosion of a car bomb in the provincial capital Gazni of southeast Afghanistan. That became known now.
Security forces and civilians in the place where the car bomb exploded
Among those killed were eight security personnel and four civilians, according to the press office of the provincial governor of Gazni. The car bomb was detonated near an intelligence agency NDS, it said. More than 50 people were injured. It is feared that the number of victims is still rising. The radical Islamic Taliban claimed the attack for themselves.
USA: „Significant“ progress
The attack occurred just under three hours before the scheduled start of the „intra-Afghan dialogue conference“ in Doha. About 60 Afghans are talking about ways to peace – representatives of the Taliban and Afghans from politics, society and various regions of the country. All invitees participate in the „informal discussion“ as private individuals. This is necessary as the Taliban refuse to speak with government officials in Kabul who see them as a puppet of the West.
Just last night, the US, which has spoken directly to Taliban representatives since July last year about a political settlement to the nearly 18-year conflict, had spoken of „significant“ progress. The most recent round of talks, which began on June 29, was the most productive meeting yet, said US Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, via Twitter. The US-Taliban talks are pausing today and tomorrow over the „intra-Afghan dialogue“ and, according to Khalilzad, will continue on 9 July.
