Afghan President Offers Taliban Recognition for Peace Talks

Islamabad,MINA – President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday called on the Taliban rebels to take part in peace talks to “save the country” and offered to recognize them as a political group, KUNA reported.

Speaking at the 2nd Kabul Process Conference attended by representatives from more than 20 countries and international organizations, Ghani said, “We will consider the Taliban’s view in the peace talks.”

He further said that the Afghan government will provide passports and issue visas to Taliban members and their families and open an office for them in Kabul.

He told that his government would also work to remove sanctions against Taliban leaders.

“A ceasefire must be agreed on and the Taliban must be declared a political group,” said Ghani.

Afghan President also said, “The Afghan government must be accepting and we will also work on the list of freeing Taliban prisoners.”

He also called on government-to-government talks with Pakistan.

Moreover, Ghani sent a strong message to Taliban saying that today peace is in their hands.

He called on the group to accept the offer and to join the peace process and together with Afghanistan “save the country”.

Earlier on Monday, Taliban rebels in a statement said that the United States must recognize that the conflict cannot be solved militarily.

The Kabul Process is an Afghan government-led initiative to find lasting peace in the war-torn country.

The peace offer came at a time when Taliban rebels have raised up their attacks across the country following President Donald Trump’s new strategy to maintain US military presence in Afghanistan. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)