For the Afghan diaspora in Australia, there are mixed feelings of apprehension and hope for those who once called the country home.
It has been hailed a historic summit; the first direct talks between the Afghanistan government and the Taliban after 40 years of devastating conflict that has left more than 130,000 people dead, including 55,000 civilians.
Now a lecturer in international relations at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Dr Ibrahimi is particularly concerned by the Taliban’s motivations going into the talks.“We don't really know much about what the Taliban objections and expectations are, and there are serious questions as to whether they will seek to impose their old Islamic emirates system which they had established in Afghanistan in the 1990s,” he said.
“The government of Afghanistan has got a different goal, Taliban has got different goal. It will be very difficult to compromise what they are thinking about the future of Afghanistan to solve the 40 years’ war issue. It's not easy.”Mr Marastial believes even if the talks prove fruitful, the process to peace will nonetheless prove protracted. He adds that stability will only be possible if international pressure on the Taliban is increased.
“He started firing on us from the backside with a machine gun. It was very horrible. I cannot remember all the details because I was very panicked and shocked at that moment,” he told SBS Pashto and Dateline from his Perth home.Getty Images
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Afghan government mounts pressure on Taliban for truce as historic peace talks beginTalks have begun in Qatar to help bring an end to almost two decades of conflict in war-torn Afghanistan.
Read more »
Afghan government mounts pressure on Taliban for truce as historic peace talks beginTalks have begun in Qatar to help bring an end to almost two decades of conflict in war-torn Afghanistan.
Read more »
'Dawn of a new Middle East': Trump presides over historic peace deal | Sky News AustraliaUS President Donald Trump has declared the 'dawn of a new Middle East' as he facilitated the official signing of an historic Middle-Eastern peace compact between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. \n\nLeaders signed the declarations during a ceremony at the White House with the UAE and Bahrain the first Arab nations to sign diplomatic accords in almost three decades.\n\n'This is peace in the Middle East without blood all over the sand,' President Trump said.\n\nIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said 'the blessings of the peace' would be enormous, calling on people to 'set aside all cynicism'.\n\nMass protests were held in the West Bank and Gaza where Palestinians set fire to images of Trump and Netanyahu and other Gulf leaders.\n\nThe Abraham Accords is intended to formalise the normalisation of relations between Israel and the two Gulf nations.\n\nThe agreements do not address the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.\n\nImage: AP\n\n
Read more »
60,000 more people may have had COVID-19 than detected: studyIf the estimates are accurate, it means Australia has endured a far-higher number of covid19 infections than previously thought, without overwhelming the hospital system, write liammannix and aishamae
Read more »
'Disappointing' start to Australia's private space race as rocket misfires at KoonibbaAustralia's first private rocket launch, set to take place at an Aboriginal community on South Australia's far west coast, has failed, with the propellent failing to ignite.
Read more »
The luckiest places to buy your Powerball ticketWe have a full list of all the Lotto hotspots around the country before you pick up your tickets... JUST FYI.
Read more »