Mohammad Karim Khalili says peace does not mean going back to Taliban’s era.
KABUL - The head of the High Peace Council, Mohammad Karim Khalili, said he is hopeful about the peace talks between US negotiators and Taliban in Qatar but added that the efforts will succeed if the peace process is all-inclusive and Afghan-owned. 
“Afghanistan by no means will return to the dark past. Peace does not mean returning back to Taliban's emirate,” said Khalili as he addressed a ceremony in Kabul on Friday.
Mohammad Haneef Atmar, former national security advisor and a presidential candidate, in an interview with Reuters has said that President Ashraf Ghani is creating challenges in the way of peace efforts to himself remain on power.
“The president is making things very difficult by taking measures that are extremely unfavorable to the process,” Atmar said.
Atmar said that Ghani should step down on May - the time the National Unity Government’s term end - and that a caretaker should run the country.
“We are certainly supportive of a caretaker government when on 21th of May the mandate of this government comes to an end. Given his record we are much better off without him,” Atmar added.
In reaction to Atmar’s remarks, President Ashraf Ghani’s spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri said the president will run his office until the presidential elections. 
Second Deputy of Chief Executive Mohammad Mohaqiq meanwhile said postponing the presidential elections for the peace talks is justifiable.
“We believe that peace is not against democracy. Peace should finally end to democracy. I do not think that peace can be implemented without having an Islamic republic and the result of the Islamic republic is that elections should take place either early or late,” Mohaqiq said. (Tolo news)