Last month, media reports appeared, saying that Kabul was engaging in secret talks with the Taliban, wishing to put an end to the group’s insurgency, which has lasted for 17 years since the US overthrew the then-ruling movement in 2001.

 

According to CNN, such an initiative could endanger the peace initiative, as the Taliban doesn’t recognize gender equality and can react negatively to women’s participation in the process.

 

Earlier this week, the TOLO news broadcaster reported that Ghani offered to recognize the Taliban movement as a political group in order to involve it in the peace process in the conflict-torn country.

 

Kabul will reportedly exert efforts to work on a list of Taliban prisoners for potential release, to provide the members of the groups and the members of their families with passports and to remove sanctions imposed on the leaders of the movement.

 

Afghanistan has long sufferedfrom political, social and security-related instability because of simmering insurgencies, including by the Taliban and Daesh.