News analysis: Intra-Afghan talks in Oslo may serve as gateway for direct dialogue with Taliban

A series of talks have been held between Taliban and Afghan elite in various countries over the past year to try and find an amicable solution to Afghanistan's lingering crisis with the latest round being held in the Norwegian capital of Oslo on Wednesday.

A three-member Taliban delegation, according to media reports, led by Sayed Tayeb Agha is going to discuss the ways and means of achieving peace with a six-member delegation from Kabul in a face- to-face meeting.

Although the meeting is said to be unofficial, political observers believe with optimism that the talks could serve as a gateway to direct talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government.

"No delegation represents the High Peace Council in the intra- Afghan dialogue in Oslo," a respected politician and senior member of the government peace body the High Peace Council (HPC), Mohammad Ismael Qasimyar told Xinhua on Monday.

Qasimyar, who is also an advisor on international relations of the High Peace Council, termed the Oslo talks among Afghans as " unofficial," saying the HPC has not sent its delegation to the talks.

Nevertheless, Qasimyar who is a renowned statesman described Pakistan's role in bolstering the Afghan peace process as "very crucial," saying, "the key to Afghanistan peace is with Pakistan and the Afghan peace process won't succeed unless Pakistan gives up support of the Taliban".

Corroborating his notion, the well-respected politician argued that since the Taliban leaders have been living in Pakistan, Islamabad can influence the Taliban to enter into peace talks with the Afghan administration.

Afghan foreign ministry spokesman Ahmad Shukib Mustaghni has confirmed that deputy foreign minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai is also among the six-member delegation attending the two-day intra- Afghan talks opened in Oslo on June 17.

This is the second time in almost a month that intra-Afghan dialogue has been held in Oslo. In the previous Oslo talks, a Taliban delegation led by Sohail Shaheen exchanged views with the Afghan delegation, comprised of a handful of politicians including two female lawmakers, during which the Taliban had demonstrated flexibility with regard to women's rights.

Amid the ongoing peace efforts by the government, the Taliban outfit has intensified its activities since April 24 when the insurgent group launched its annual spring offensive in various parts of Afghanistan, claiming hundreds of lives and leaving thousands of others to leave their houses for safer places.

Afghan political watchers believe, however, that Afghanistan's neighboring states, regional and world powers, especially China, the U.S. and India can play a significant role for bolstering the peace process in Afghanistan.

Amid the intra-Afghan talks and ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan, the emergence of the Iraq-based extremist outfit known as the Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan, according to Afghan observers, would complicate the peace process.

The Taliban outfit, which has frequently rejected the government's offer to hold peace talks in the past has confirmed participation of its delegation in the Oslo dialogue.

"The talks among Afghans in Oslo is a positive step and eventually can facilitate the direct and formal talks between the Taliban and the government," another political analyst Asadullah Walwalji told local media on Tuesday. Endi