DOHA (AFP) - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Afghan government negotiators arrived in Doha on Friday (Sept 11) ahead of what promise to be lengthy and difficult peace talks with the Taleban after 19 years of war.
Afghan negotiations set to begin Saturday were originally scheduled for March but were repeatedly pushed back amid disputes over a prisoner exchange that included the release of hundreds of battle-hardened Taleban fighters.
"I hope this is a historic day and the beginning of a big change," said Abdullah Abdullah, an Afghan former minister who is leading the peace negotiations, as he left for Doha.
"Afghanistan's problems have no military solutions, that is why we are going to talks."
US President Donald Trump has made ending America's involvement in Afghanistan a foreign policy priority as he faces uncertain prospects in the Nov 3 election.
The Afghan government delegation and Pompeo both arrived in Doha on Friday ahead of the opening session of what Washington's top diplomat said was a "historic" opportunity to end America's longest war.
"I'm mindful of how difficult these conversations will be among the Afghans but it's theirs for the taking," he told reporters onboard his flight to the Qatari capital.
Abdul Hafiz Mansour, a member of Kabul's delegation, said his message to the Taleban would be that they "cannot succeed by force".
"The time is ready for reconciliation now, we can resolve our problems by talking to each other," Mansour said.
'DESPERATE FOR PEACE'
Negotiations have raised hope across Afghanistan that the conflict might come to a halt.
"We are desperate for peace. The killing of Afghans should be stopped," said Kabul shopkeeper Abdullah, who lost a relative in a bomb attack that targeted Vice President Amrullah Saleh this week.
"I'm not very optimistic about the future, but peace talks are a good first step to at least reduce the violence."
The UN's envoy to Afghanistan Deborah Lyons called for an "an immediate and unconditional reduction in violence" ahead of the talks.
"(That) would create a more conducive environment for constructive talks," she said in a statement.
The announcement of the start of peace talks came on Thursday just hours after a final hurdle - the fate of a group of Taleban prisoners including those who murdered French and Australian civilians and troops - appeared to have been resolved.
Two Taleban prisoners who murdered Frenchwoman Bettina Goislard, a UN refugee worker, were released in the province of Wardak.
Six other militants including two who killed French and Australian soldiers were transferred to Doha on a special plane reportedly to be held in detention there.
Paris and Canberra emphasised their opposition to any release of these prisoners.
"France reaffirms its firmest opposition to the release of individuals sentenced for committing crimes against French nationals, in particular soldiers and humanitarian workers," Paris said in a statement.
Canberra insisted that a Taleban militant who killed three Australian soldiers and who was sent to Doha should not be released.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the US negotiator on Afghanistan, said ahead of the talks that the "big picture" was to end the war.
"I know that none of us are happy about the release of prisoners that committed violence against forces but we want to keep the big picture in mind," he told reporters.
Peace talks were delayed for six months as the Taleban and Kabul conducted a wider US-brokered prisoner exchange.
The Taleban released 1,000 Afghan troops, while Kabul freed 5,000 insurgents.
