The meeting of the leaders of the anti-Taliban resistance, which was supposed to take place in Austria, seems to be losing its appeal.
MASHHAD, April 28 - Sangar, Zahir Faqir. The Taliban* and their international supporters also intend to hold a similar meeting in Kabul.
Representatives from at least three anti-Taliban resistance fronts have confirmed to the Sangar website that they have been invited to a large meeting in Austria and simultaneously to the Loya Jirga in Afghanistan:
“We have been contacted by the organizers of the Austrian meeting, which is scheduled for mid-May in Vienna, Austria. The Taliban also send messages through certain individuals. But neither side seems confident," one said.
Earlier, the special envoy of the President of Iran for Afghanistan, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, told the Mehr news agency that the Taliban are planning to convene a Loya Jirga (Meeting of Elders). According to the news agency, the Taliban have invited Afghan political leaders to return to Kabul and their safety will be guaranteed.
“He added that he expects the stabilization of Afghanistan in terms of security, economy, and science, and this will lead to the return of refugees to their homeland, and Iran will help in this matter. Mr. Kazemi Komi expressed his hope that the Afghan crisis will be resolved through this initiative,” writes Mehr.
The Iranian president's special envoy for Afghanistan reports this when the Taliban themselves have not yet made an official statement on this matter.
Meanwhile, some members of the Resistance Front say they prefer the Austrian meeting because they do not believe in the Taliban and there is nothing to discuss with them.
"This is for those who are waiting for the invitation of the Taliban, not the fighters. Maybe some leaders obedient to Iran will go, but we categorically refuse this meeting. The plan is for them to gain legitimacy and humiliate, insult and even destroy more influential leaders of the resistance. This is not the Taliban's own plan, this is the plan of their patrons. Iran does nothing without coordination with Russia and China," one of them said.
According to Sangar's interlocutors, the Austrian meeting is also losing its attractiveness, primarily because opponents of this "troika", including the US and Europe, are probably behind the scenes. The main fronts of the anti-Taliban resistance, and there are almost 10 of them in total, are trying to stay away from the contradictions of the great powers and not get involved in their game.
Sangar previously said that the meeting of the leaders of the Afghan resistance will be held in the Islamic Republic of Iran and a two-tier council will be established. However, for unknown reasons, this meeting was held at the level of representatives of the fronts located in Iran, but no specific decision was made.
*The organization is under UN sanctions for terrorist activities.