Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- From the beginning of September 2020, Afghanistan’s government and Taliban negotiating teams are preparing for the first time to open direct talks in Qatar to end the decades-long war through a political settlement. This phase of the peace process will revolve around a de facto "peace agreement", according to the BBC (UK).

Both IRA officials and ordinary Afghans hope that the parties will reach agreement on a ceasefire, although the Taliban have so far demonstrated their determination to continue fighting until their demands are met. JT views violence as its best means of influencing the negotiation process and is wary of letting its fighters lay down their arms, as the Taliban may refuse to return to hostilities or join ISIS.

Kabul and the Taliban will also try to agree on the country's political future. However, this task seems difficult in view of the conflicting views of the parties on the form of government in Afghanistan. Taliban supports the idea of an Islamic Emirate, while the IRA government has a more modern and democratic view of Afghanistan, building on the achievements of the past two decades.

Meanwhile, the Taliban are deliberately vague about their political vision. Recently in an interview with the BBC, one of the main negotiators of the Taliban, A. Stanekzai, when asked whether the Taliban agree with the democratic process, replied as follows: “I cannot say, there are many types of government that have been tested in Afghanistan. Some want an Emirati system, some want a presidential form of government. The Taliban will agree with the system supported by the majority who participated in the negotiations. "

Given the current pace of peaceful progress, negotiations between the IRA government and Taliban are likely to be protracted and unpredictable. However, after years of war only led to a deadlock on the battlefield, intra-Afghan negotiations represent at least an opportunity for peace in Afghanistan.