KABUL - President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday claimed some Afghan Taliban leaders had contacted him after the opening of their office Doha, saying they were ready to hold talks with the High Peace Council (HPC).

Speaking to a delegation from southeastern Khost province at his office, Karzai said the Taliban leaders in contact with his government wanted a united Afghanistan and were against foreign interference in the peace process.

The president added he had been told by the Taliban leaders that the voice raised at the opening ceremony for the Qatar office about peace negotiations and the conflict had nothing to do with their stance.

In a reference to the current political landscape, Karzai said the people of Afghanistan wanted a peace process that guaranteed their national unity, the country’s territorial integrity and improved the current system.

Calling peace the top most priority for the Afghan people, the president said they would not allow foreigners to exploit that desire and use it as a tool to reach their own targets.

The delegation from Khost was comprised of religious scholars and tribal elders, who apprised the president of their demands and problems.

Eng. Hamid Shah, Ghazi Nawaz Tanai and Mohammad Qayyum Khan spoke on behalf of the elders. They said the security situation in Khost was satisfactory and close cooperation existed between the people and the local government.

Their demands included an accelerated pace of work on the Khost airport and the Khost-Gardez highway. They sought the implementation of the Khost City master plan, the construction of hydropower dams and industrial parks.

According to a statement from Karzai’s office, the delegation also demanded the elevation of Khost to a second-grade province.

After listening to his interlocutors, the president directed the ministries concerned and the Independent Directorate of Local Governance to look into their demands and problems. (Pajhwok)