OIC fails to convince Taliban for unconditional talks with opposition

ISLAMABAD (NNI): The Organization of Islamic Conference, OIC has failed to seek assurance from the Taliban to hold unconditional talks with the opposition northern alliance.

The first round of talks between the OIC committee on Afghanistan and the Taliban was apparently not successful. The OIC delegation raised the issues of regional concern as well. For example, increase in narcotics production in Afghanistan and shelter to the terrorist groups, reports BBC.

The Jeddah talks are aimed at convincing and encouraging the Afghan warning factions to sit around the negotiating table. They are discussing the need for formation of broad based government and brokering ceasefire in Afghanistan.

But the big question is that would OIC convince the Taliban that these talks would benefit them? The Taliban who control almost 90 percent territory have once again launched military offensive to conquer the remaining part of the country as well.

The head of the OIC delegation and the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javed Zarif, after the first round of talks with the Taliban said that it is a positive thing that the Taliban movement prefers to resolve the Afghan conflict through peaceful means. He said that Taliban have not ruled out the possibility of direct talks with the opponents.

The OIC delegation told the Taliban that narcotics, terrorism and the refugees problem should be kept in view as a part of overall political solution.