MAZAR-E-SHARF - If the Taliban renounce war and violence, they can become part of the government, says Atta Mohammad Noor of northern Balkh province in an unprecedented statement before the Nawroz festival.

In a press conference on Wednesday, the acting governor of Balkh stated that he had no problem if the Taliban were given seats in the government; however, he urged that the group needed to join peace and stop killing the Afghans.

"If the Taliban honestly join the peace process, and then if they are given a position, I am not against it," Noor said. "But this position should not be proven costly to our people and government."

Supporting the government's initiatives to begin peace talks with the Taliban, Noor urged that the process should be transparent and clear to the people.

He once again called on the government to not let the country be sacrificed for the policies of any other country.

"Afghanistan should not be sacrificed for the strategic and big plans of any country," Noor warned.

Expressing concerns over the activities of newly-emerged Daesh group, Noor warned that conspiracies were underway to replace the Taliban with Daesh.

His statements come as the National Unity Government (NUG) is about to initiate peace talks with the Taliban after the Pakistani government assured Afghanistan to bring the Taliban to the negotiation table. (Tolonews)