KABUL - The Afghan government has not considered handing over some of the Afghan provinces, a spokesman for President Karzai said denying reports that the government had decided to transfer responsibility of some provinces to the Taliban. Afghan President Hamid Karzai's chief spokesperson, Emal Faizi, on Monday dismissed reports that the government had considered handing over some of the provinces to the Taliban.

He said the Afghan government will never accept such a demand and will never take any action that could damage the country's territorial integrity and national unity.

"Reports about possible handover of some provinces to the Taliban are baseless. The Afghan government will never accept such a demand from any side, as our stance is very clear about national unity," Mr Faizi said.

Mr Faizi also told TOLOnews that violence in Afghanistan must be stopped before any talks are held with the Taliban.

"We have been clear that violence against the Afghan people must stop before we begin to hold talks," said Emal Faizi.

Asked whether the Afghan government has sent representatives to Qatar, Mr Faizi said the government had not yet made any decisions about it.

Meanwhile, there are reports that the US forces will declared a ceasefire in the southern parts of Afghanistan after it begins talks with the Taliban.