KABUL - The second Vice President, Sarwar Danish, on Friday said that the preservation of gains made over the past 14 years and respect for Afghanistan's Constitution are the main prerequisites for peace talks with the Taliban.
Talking on the occasion of the death anniversary of Abdul Ali Mazari, a leader of the Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan, Danish said: "The enemies of Afghanistan should know that we are ready to talk peace as long as achievements made over the past years are preserved and the talks are under the framework of the Constitution. Otherwise, they [Taliban] will be eliminated by our security forces through military operations."
He said that Afghan security forces will not allow the Taliban to expand their wars to other parts of the country.
"It is said that militants want to expand their activities to northern parts of Afghanistan and Central Asian countries this spring. These are mere rumors. The government is committed to ensuring security in all parts of the country and restraining the advancement of insurgents," Danish added.
Meanwhile, former president Hamid Karzai called on the Taliban to accept the government's call for peace.
"I urge the Taliban to free themselves from slavery of others. If they [the Taliban] are truly Afghans, then they should join the peace process and restrain from fighting against the government," he said.
In a message passed on by President Ashraf Ghani, he bestowed the title of 'martyr of national unity' on Mazari.
The main focus by speakers at the event was on peace talks with the Taliban.
The Deputy Chairman of the High Peace Council (HPC), Mohammad Karim Khalili, said that the talks should bring peace with dignity to Afghanistan and should put an end to wars.
"We emphasize on intra-Afghan peace talks. We urge foreigners to put their differences aside and not to make Afghanistan a battleground for their proxy wars," he added.
Participants at the event once again called for an end to wars in Afghanistan and said all people should stand united in front of the existing challenges in the country. (Tolonews)