Context: The Joe Biden administration has proposed a new peace plan to the Afghan government and the Taliban, seeking to bring violence to a halt. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has written a letter to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, detailing the proposal.

Background:

• According to the agreement the U.S. signed with the Taliban in February 2020, American troops are set to leave Afghanistan by May 1.
• The Taliban and the Afghan government started peace talks in Doha in September last year but reached no breakthrough.
• The Biden administration is concerned about the slow pace of the talks. The U.S. assessment is that if American troops are pulled out of Afghanistan, the Taliban would make quick gains.
• Biden administration’s assessment is that the Taliban are on the ascent. It hopes that the best way to prevent a complete Taliban takeover is a regional peace process and an interim unity government. The Taliban are yet to respond to America’s proposal.

American proposal:

1. Mr. Blinken has asked the Afghan President to show urgent leadership in the coming weeks.

• Blinken has proposed a UN-led conference of representatives of Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, India and the U.S. to discuss a unified approach to support peace in Afghanistan.

2. Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S.’s special envoy for Afghanistan, will share written proposals with the Afghan leadership and the Taliban to accelerate talks.

• It urges both sides to reach a consensus on Afghanistan’s future constitutional and governing arrangements; find a road map to a new “inclusive government”; and agree on the terms of a “permanent and comprehensive ceasefire”.
• Blinken has also proposed a senior level meeting of the Afghan government and the Taliban in Turkey.

Afghan govt.’s stand:

• The Ghani administration has consistently been critical of the U.S.’s direct outreach to the Taliban. The Trump administration held direct talks with the Taliban, excluding the government.
• Later, Washington put pressure on Kabul to release Taliban prisoners as part of an agreement it reached with the insurgents.
• Even when the Doha talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government were under way, Mr. Ghani made it clear that he, as elected President, is the only legitimate representative of the Afghan people and he resisted making concessions to the Taliban.
• When Mr. Blinken’s letter was leaked, Mr. Ghani reiterated his opposition to any transfer of power except through elections.

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/what-does-bidens-peace-plan-mean-for-afghanistan/article34040839.ece

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