KABUL - Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah on Thursday asked Taliban militants to shun insurgency and follow the path of the Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA).
A statement from CEO office to Pajhwok Afghan News said Abdullah made the call on Taliban at a meeting celebrating Eid Milladun Nabi or birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) at the Sapidar palace.
Afghanistan was defending itself against an assault and Afghan forces were fighting to protect their territory, he said.
Abdullah asked the Taliban to give up violence and follow into HIA’s footsteps by joining the peace process.
“All those who favor fighting would understand one day that reconciliation is the only the best and peaceful way while fighting would lead to their killing,” he added.
The statement said Afghanistan Ulema Council head Mulavi Qyamuddin Kashaf, who also participated in the celebration, criticized the government over the ongoing war, casualties, land grabbing, robbery cases, corruption and some other issues and asked the government to resolve them.
The Ulema Council in a statement called the ongoing war as imposed on Afghanistan and condemned it. The council also asked militants to shun violence and choose the path of peace.