Taliban say ready for talks with groups resisting ‘foreign occupation’

Author:

Afghan Taliban on Tuesday expressed willingness to initiate dialogue with the leaders of local groups resisting the United States’ “foreign occupation”.

The stance was expressed in a statement that termed the 2001 US-led military invasion of Afghanistan an ‘ongoing tragedy’ and remained mum over Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s recently announced peace plan. Taliban’s Qatar based political office invites Afghans “who do not support the invaders, be they jihadi personalities or otherwise” to exchange views on how to end “foreign occupation” and establish an Islamic system and start a political reconciliation process in the country, it read. The statement came after former governor Ismail Khan extended an offer to initiate peace talks. Khan, a former Jihadi leader, had earlier told the Taliban that if they were not willing to engage in peace talks with the Afghan government then they should broker “a deal with the great family of jihad” to resolve conflict.

Published in Daily Times, March 22nd 2018.

Share
Leave a Comment

Recent Posts

  • Pakistan

The march is on despite ‘crackdown

As PTI convoys from across the country kept on marching Islamabad for the party's much-touted…

2 hours ago
  • Pakistan

PM tasks Punjab, NA speakers with placating PPP

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has instructed the speakers of the national assembly and Punjab's provincial…

2 hours ago
  • Pakistan

Kurram warring tribes agree on 7-day ceasefire

Following the government's efforts to ease tensions in Kurram, a ceasefire was agreed between the…

2 hours ago
  • Pakistan

Polio tally hits 55 after three more cases surface

In a worrying development, Pakistan's poliovirus tally has reached 55 after three more children were…

2 hours ago
  • Cartoons

TODAY’S CARTOON

2 hours ago
  • Editorial

Diplomacy & Disruptions

Islamabad welcomed Belarusian Foreign Minister Maksim Reznichenko who is leading a 68-member delegation. Of course,…

2 hours ago