Taliban Delegation 'Forced' to Cancel Trip to Pakistan

The Taliban's trip to Pakistan for negotiations and meetings regarding Afghan issues has been postponed; the militant group announced that most of its delegation members are unable to travel to Pakistan due to U.S. and UN sanctions. The cancellation of the trip was mentioned in a statement released by the group on February 17, just one day before the meetings and negotiations that were supposed to take place with the Taliban delegation in Islamabad, Pakistan. The postponement of the Taliban delegation's trip comes after the Afghan central government lodged a complaint with the UN Security Council regarding this trip. The Taliban had stated that they would meet with a U.S. delegation in Pakistan on February 18, although U.S. officials had not confirmed this and stated that they had not received an official invitation for potential negotiations. Reports also indicated that the Saudi Crown Prince might meet with the Taliban delegation during his visit to Islamabad, a claim that Riyadh did not confirm or deny. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan had also announced that the Taliban meeting in his country would include 'comprehensive negotiations related to Afghanistan-Pakistan relations.' However, the Afghan central government protested this trip. The Afghan representation at the UN reminded that Taliban members are facing UN sanctions, including regarding foreign travel, stating that these events signify a 'violation of Afghanistan's national sovereignty.' The Taliban has a political office in Doha, the capital of Qatar, where the negotiating team members reside. At least five members of the Taliban negotiation team are former prisoners from the U.S. Guantanamo Bay prison. The Taliban has held negotiations with Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan, in Doha. Both the Taliban and Washington have stated that progress has been made in these negotiations. However, the Afghan government still does not have a direct role in the negotiations. The Taliban continues to refrain from direct meetings and discussions with the government, while Kabul emphasizes that any agreement must result from direct dialogue between Afghan parties. Pakistan is said to potentially play a key role in reaching an agreement with the Taliban. The Taliban's trip to Pakistan was supposed to take place a week before a new round of negotiations between this group and the U.S. delegation. The United States is seeking a way to end the war and unrest in Afghanistan. Donald Trump, the U.S. President, has expressed his desire to withdraw American forces from the region and it is reported that the U.S. is considering options to reduce the number of its military personnel in Afghanistan. The 17-year war and unrest in Afghanistan is the longest military engagement that the United States has been involved in.