Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

Govt. Agrees to Taliban Office

Govt. Agrees to Taliban Office

KABUL - The Afghan government has agreed to the opening of an office for Taliban negotiations either in Kabul or in another Islamic country.
President Hamid Karzai met with key Taliban leaders and agreed to open an office, Aimal Faizi, a spokesman for the president, told TOLOnews.
He emphasized that the office will be used only for negotiations.

In a statement, the Presidential Palace said that violence against the Afghan people should end before talks start.
"The Afghan government has agreed to open an office in Kabul. If the situation does not fit here, we are ready to open an office for them in Saudi Arabia or Turkey but not Qatar," Mr Faizi told TOLOnews.

"The Afghan government agrees [to let] the Taliban have an office in either Kabul or in another Islamic country, but the priority is Kabul," Arsalan Rahmani, the Minister of Higher Education under the Taliban regime, told TOLOnews.

Civil society organizations have said that the opening of a political office for the Taliban legitimizes the insurgent group.
On Wednesday, the Afghan Ambassador to Qatar was recalled for "consultations."

Reports suggest President Karzai was uncomfortable about progress made in Qatar in bringing insurgents to the negotiating table without the involvement of the Afghan government.

The Afghan government said that no one can form a political office for the Taliban without its involvement.

Peace negotiations came to a standstill after the assassination of High Peace Council chief Burhanudin Rabbani by a visitor posing as a peace messenger from the Taliban.