KABUL - No group apart from the government of Afghanistan and its appointed High Peace Council is competent for negotiations directly with the Taliban, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said Sunday, explaining that it alone will do so while maintaining the country's and the people's best interests.

"No one except the government and the High Peace Council has the competency for direct talks to the Taliban. And the government will talk to the Taliban considering all the preconditions especially the protection of these eleven years of achievements, and supporting people's rights, especially the rights of women and children," MOFA spokesman Janan Mosazai said.

The liaison office for Taliban in Doha is yet not opened, however the Afghan government is still working with Qatar on the matter, Mosazai added.

The Taliban have not shown any sign of readiness to begin peace talks with Afghanistan but, according to Mosazai, a number of Taliban officials are planning to attend peace talks and cooperate with the High Peace Council.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan National Coalition has said the peace talks will have no outcome until the role of political parties and coalitions, civil society organisations and human rights organisations are underlined in the talks.

"Over the past ten years, the government has had no achievement in bringing peace and in talks with the Taliban," Fazlurrahman Oria, National Coalition member, said. "And if the opposition, civil societies organisations and human rights organisations are not given a role, then talks with Taliban will be failure and there will never be peace and sustainability in Afghanistan," he added.

Pakistan has also demonstrated that is should have a prominent role in peace talks and, if willing, may be capable of convincing Taliban leaders to negotiate for peace. (Tolo News)