Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
December 20, 2018
The U.S. special peace envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, has questioned the Taliban’s determination to end the 17-year war, after the group’s representatives refused to meet with an Afghan government-backed negotiating team.
“We have to wait and see their forthcoming steps,” Khalilzad told Afghan news agency Ariana News on December 20, according to a translation of the interview provided by the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.
Khalilzad said that, while he was certain the Afghan government wanted to end the conflict, it was unclear whether the Taliban were “genuinely seeking peace.”
Khalilzad’s remarks came after his latest face-to-face meeting earlier this week with the Taliban, which was held in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates and was also attended by Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
The UAE hailed the talks as “positive for all parties concerned.”
But the Taliban would not meet with a 12-person Afghan delegation, Khalilzad said, describing the decision as “wrong.”
“If the Taliban are really seeking peace, they have to sit with the Afghan government ultimately to reach an agreement on the future political settlement in Afghanistan,” the former U.S. ambassador to Iraq and Afghanistan said.
The Taliban has refused direct talks with the Afghan government, which it says is an American puppet.
Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters
Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.
Related
The Taliban are right.
Afghanistan has no Gavernment.
In Afghanistan there are many,many
Governments,like Khalili Government
Mohaqiq Gaverment,Dostum Gavernment,Ata Noor Government
Zia Masud Gavernment,Ismail Khan Gavernment,Saiaf Gavernment and
now already Hekmatiar Gavernment!!!
Doese really Khalilzad believe,that there is any things like Gavernment in Afghanistan.
Every body is in Afghanistan Gavernment if he serves USA and CIA.
That is a kind of new democracy what the USA and NATO instilled in Afghanistan!!!
Now Khalilzad should tell the world ,with whom should the Taliban talk.
The “real”
people-approved religious authorities
must decide
on
political destiny
of
the country- though, they are
not immune from having some hidden rogue characters in the midst either.
.
.
*Satanic energy, could
turn stronger
twists
in
certain circles !
You can not keep sacrificing
the
*young people
of
Afghanistan !
*IT HAS GOT
TO
TURN OUT
.
SINCERELY GOOD
FOR
THE WEL-BEING
OF
ALL REGULAR MUSLIM FOLKS
INSIDE
AFGHANISTAN- AND ACROSS THE BOARD !
***
**
*
OF COARSE;, IN CONSIDERATIONS
TO
THE RIGHTS OF ALL THE
MUSLIM COMMUNITIES
OF
THE SURROUNDING
ISLAMIC COUNTRIES.
*THE MAIN
ISLAMIC MESSAGE:
***
**
*
*OBLIGATE US ALL
TO
EXTEND REDPECT
TO
ALL HUMANITY- “REGARDLESS” !
*PLEASE;
===
==
=
CHECK IT OUT !
*SINCERITY
AND
*RESPECT
FOR ALL !