Afghanistan peace talks open in Qatar
Abdullah Abdullah, chair of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation, Taliban Dep leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were in Doha on Saturday for the opening ceremony of talks for ending decades of war that cost tens of thousands of lives. The two sides are meeting face to face for the first time. Whereas Abdullah spoke of working together honestly for a lasting peace, Baradar reiterated the demand for Afghanistan to adopt an “Islamic system” of government. Pompeo called the talks a “historic” opportunity to end America’s longest war and withdrew its troops. The Afghan negotiating team includes five female representatives who will be responsible for upholding women’s rights in the negotiations.