Afghan president will propose three-phase roadmap to peace: report

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will propose a three-phase roadmap during a meeting in Turkey this month in an effort to finalize a peace deal with the Taliban before a May 1 deadline to withdraw all foreign troops from Afghanistan, according to a Reuters report.

Documents obtained by Reuters shows the phases including the establishment of a consensus on a political settlement and an internationally monitored ceasefire.

A second phase includes a presidential election and establishing a new political system. The third phase will include building the framework of a constitution and a reintegration of refugees.

Ghani’s plan is expected to counter U.S. proposals, which has been rejected by the Afghan government.

The U.S. wants the potential meeting to be held this month in Turkey and include U.N. involvement.

The Afghan government has said it first needs to agree to an agenda with the Taliban before meeting.

The Taliban threatened in a statement last month that hostilities would resume against foreign troops if they did not withdraw from Afghanistan by May 1, an agreement reached by insurgents and the Trump administration. 

A a senior government official has said the Taliban is willing to extend deadline if the country releases thousands of their prisoners held by authorities in Kabul.

A Taliban spokesman said such an offer to extend the deadline had not been made.