KABUL - Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah on Thursday said the Taliban turned down the government’s offer to hold peace talks because they had no mercy for Afghans and had concern about their situation.
Speaking at a gathering marking the fifth death anniversary of a former jihad commander and provincial police chief Abdul Rahman Syedkheli in Kabul, Abdullah said the challenges and problems being faced by the government and the people were concerning.
“Reaching peace has its own way, it requires a strong determination and real effort,” Abdullah said, asking the Afghans to join hands against challenges and threats.
Pakistan was to host direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban in the first week of March as decided by the Quadrilateral Coordination Group involving Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the US, but the Taliban rejected the talks.
Remembering Syedkheli, who was killed in a suicide attack five years ago, Abdullah said if the defenders of the nation put their weapons on the ground what would be the situation then. “Afghanistan needs to be rescued, come and join hands to do this.”
The CEO said Syedkheli was a patriotic mujahid who not only defended his own tribe, but all Afghan tribes against the enemy. (Pajhwok)