Middle East News

Afghan Taliban Reject Peace Talks with Government

A spokesman for the Taliban in Afghanistan said that the group "rejects" and would not participate in peace talks with the Afghan government.

A spokesperson for the Taliban in Afghanistan said that the group “rejects” peace talks with the Afghan government and would not participate in a peace process unless foreign forces stop attacking its positions and leave the country.

Talks between the Taliban and Afghan government were previously expected to take place this month in Pakistan; they had been organized by Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States. But the group said Saturday it had never agreed to an official peace process.

A spokesperson for Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdulla said the government “has no problem holding the first round of direct peace talks.”

The Wall Street Journal reported that Taliban and Afghan officials had met in February in Qatar to discuss the peace talks and efforts to end long-running fighting.

(Image: Reuters/Omar Sobhani)

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