No breakthrough in Afghan peace talks until 2015

The EU special envoy for Afghanistan Vygaudas Usackas on Wednesday said that the peace efforts between the Afghan government and Taliban militants group will not bear fruit until 2015, a year after US-led troops leave the country. While speaking during an open session of the Geneva Centre for security policy, Vygaudas Usackas said, “The European Union supports an Afghan-led dialogue on reconciliation. Whatever channels they choose is up to them.” Usackas further added that no breakthrough is expected in Afghan peace talks until 2015. The comments by EU special envoy for Afghanistan comes a day after Taliban militants group temporarily closed their newly opened office in Qatar, blaming “broken promises” by the Afghan government and United States. The Taliban political office was opened in Qatar on June 18 in a bid to accelerate potential peace talks with the Taliban group to end almost a decade old violence in the country. However Afghan president Hamid Karzai and Afghan high peace council boycotted the talks with the Taliban group and suspended talks on bilateral security agreement following the establishment of the Taliban office in Qatar, calling it a step to establish a paralell government in Afghanistan. In the meantime EU special envoy for Afghanistan Vygaudas Usackas said, “We’re watching the situation around the Doha office… We know that peace and reconciliation requires patience and consistency.”