KABUL - US ambassador in Afghanistan John Bass has rejected the Taliban’s propaganda campaign regarding their negotiations in Doha, the capital of Qatar.
Addressing reporters in Kabul, the US envoy talked about the ongoing talks in Qatar, upcoming presidential elections and other related issues.
Referring to the elections schedule change, Bass said it was proposed by the new commissioners to ensure a more credible and transparent elections in the country.
Bass said the US was negotiating Taliban on the concerned issues of the US and allies. Hence, Afghans issues would be discussed between the representatives of the people, Afghan government and Taliban. In terms of who would make the final decision in the peace talks he said it was the Afghan people who makes the final decisions. “Afghans will decide what to be compromised to reach a suitable peace and put an end to the long conflict in the country”, Bass said.
Bass said the US purpose of talks with the Taliban was the establishment of peace and stability and protection of the achievements of the past 18 years.
Referring to different information offered by the US representative, Zalmay Khalilzad, and the Taliban regarding their ongoing peace talks, Bass said the Taliban were spreading unfair propaganda and information regarding the talks.
He asked the Taliban to sit with the people of Afghanistan and talk instead of killing innocent people.
He said the US never represented the people of Afghanistan in the talks underway in Qatar and stressed the people of Afghanistan should resolve their differences themselves.
He said four topics -- withdrawal of foreign forces, counter-terrorism, ceasefire and intra-Afghan dialogue --- had been discussed with the Taliban and there was progress on the first two topics.
Referring to the coordination between Afghan government and the US chief negotiator, Bass said there was close coordination among the two sides and Afghan government was in the picture of all issues discussed in the talks.
He stressed that nothing would be agreed until everything was agreed. He said the ceasefire would not be observed only between the Taliban and US forces, but also with the Afghan forces. (DOA)