KABUL - A former top leader of the Taliban group Agha Jan Mutasim has said the group is optimistic about peace process with the Afghan government.
Mutasim was serving as the minister of finance during the Taliban regime and political head of Taliban’s Quetta Council.
The remarks by Mutasim come as the group rejected the earlier calls by Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) consisting of Afghanistan, Pakistan, US and China to participate in peace talks.
“Taliban are optimistic about the peace process and they believe China could play a key role,” former Taliban minister Agha Jan Mutasim told The Express Tribune.
The latest remark by Mutasim comes as the Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since the group announced its spring offensive in mid-April this year.
The Afghan government was expecting to participate in direct peace talks with the Taliban group earlier in March this year but the group responded the Afghan government call with deadly attacks.
Afghanistan was forced to stop peace efforts following a series of deadly attacks in the country, including a major attack on VIP protection unit in Kabul that left at least 64 dead and 347 others wounded.
The Afghan government opted a strict military option to weaken the group on the battlefield after the attack and announcement of the group’s spring offensive.(KP)