KABUL, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Both the Taliban and government forces have intensified operations against each other ahead of intra-Afghan dialogue for finding negotiated settlement to Afghanistan's prolonged conflict which is expected to open in Qatar's capital Doha on Sunday.
An Afghan delegation comprising politicians, social figures, tribal chieftains, civil society organs, women right activists, former government officials and ranking officials of the incumbent government but in personal capacity, according to local media reports, is going to attend the two-day talks.
Taliban outfit, according to local media reports, has categorically stated that the armed group won't talk to anyone representing the government, but anyone who participates the talks in personal capacity to exchange views on how to end the war and bring about peace in Afghanistan.
U.S. special envoy for peace in Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad who concluded his seventh round of talks with the Taliban negotiators few days ago in Doha, has reportedly expressed the hope that the Afghans are closer to reaching peace than any time.
However, amid efforts for reaching peace in Afghanistan, the warring sides in the country have stepped up activities as more than 70 people including civilians, security personnel and militants, according to the officials and the Taliban sources, have been killed in the conflict-battered country over the past 24 hours.
Afghan observers believe that both the government and the Taliban outfit would do their best to gain more ground and enter the peace talks from a strong position expected in the coming months.
"Taliban militants have intensified anti-government activities to demonstrate the group's power and secure upper hand in the peace talks, while the government forces in counter-offensives and targeting Taliban's key commanders want to shrink the militants grip to force it sit on the negotiated table with the government," political analyst and veteran journalist Khan Mohammad Daneshjo told Xinhua.
