# Afghan President to Offer Taliban Second Olive Branch 

March 25, 2018 • Commentary 

By [Sahar Khan](https://www.cato.org/people/sahar-khan) 

This article appeared in *[Axios](https://www.axios.com/)* on March 25, 2018. 

World leaders [will gather in Tashkent, Uzbekistan](https://www.wsj.com/articles/uzbekistan-to-host-conference-on-afghan-peace-talks-1516577299), tomorrow to discuss the prospects for peace in Afghanistan. The two-day conference will be [attended by](https://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/tashkent-hold-peace-summit-afghanistan) Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, representatives from the UN and EU and high-ranking officials from 25 other countries, including Pakistan and the U.S.

**Why it matters:** This summit offers a [real chance](https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/an-open-letter-to-the-taliban) for the Taliban to [become part of the peace process](http://thekabultimes.gov.af/index.php/opinions/politics/16543-government%E2%80%99s-peace-package%3B-last-opportunity-for-taliban.html) instead of remaining on the fringes.

The Tashkent [conference follows a February meeting in Kabul](https://www.rferl.org/a/afghan-taliban-cool-ghani-peace-offer-while-20-countries-kabul-process-support-it/29069945.html) prompted by an open letter to the U.S. from Taliban leadership proposing a renewed dialogue. President Ghani extended the Tailban an olive branch, offering to hold peace talks [without preconditions](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-taliban/afghanistans-ghani-offers-talks-with-taliban-without-preconditions-idUSKCN1GC0J0) and to grant a [ceasefire, prisoner swap](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-43227860), and even [passport](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/28/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-peace-talks.html)s.

While [20 countries](https://www.rferl.org/a/afghan-taliban-cool-ghani-peace-offer-while-20-countries-kabul-process-support-it/29069945.html), including the [U.S.](https://www.usip.org/events/signs-hope-afghan-peace-talks), support Afghanistan’s offer, the Taliban have remained silent, which might indicate internal divisions on how best to approach the peace process.

**What’s next:** The latest reports indicate that the Taliban [will ](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-uzbekistan-afghanistan-conference/taliban-likely-to-miss-afghan-peace-meeting-says-host-uzbekistan-idUSKCN1GO1VF)sit out the conference. But now that the Afghan government has made its [generous](https://thedefensepost.com/2018/03/06/opinion-afghanistan-ghani-taliban-peace-offer/) offer [twice](https://www.voanews.com/a/taliban-silence-prompts-ghani-to-repeat-afghan-peace-overture/4284069.html), the Taliban would be wise to accept it.

##### About the Author 

[![Media Name: khan-cropped.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/authors/crops/khan-cropped.jpg?itok=ZEbN5p0Y)](/people/sahar-khan) 

##### [Sahar Khan](/people/sahar-khan)

Former Research Fellow, Cato Institute

[ 

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