Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Taliban Deny Holding New Talks with US

Taliban Deny Holding New Talks with US

KABUL - Taliban on Sunday denied that they had resumed talks with the United States, while the Afghan government insisted that the peace process was "on track".
The Taliban, who last month broke off contacts with the US in Qatar, said they would not resume talks "until the Americans take constructive steps and fulfill promises which were agreed upon for confidence building".
Among the confidence building measures proposed is the release of five Taliban leaders held at the US military prison in Guantanamo Bay.

The statement, posted on the Taliban website, came just days after the US, Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed at a meeting in Islamabad to look at ways to provide safe passage to Taliban who are willing to join the peace process.

But in Kabul on Sunday, the Afghan government said progress was being made in efforts to negotiate an end to the decade-long war.

"The peace process is still on track with the Taliban and also efforts are underway by the Afghan government for setting up a Taliban address in the Gulf state of Qatar," foreign ministry spokesman JananMosazai told a news conference.

The Taliban, however, have always dismissed the idea of talks with the Afghan government, describing it as a puppet of the Americans. (AFP)