KABUL – The Taliban say they “categorically reject” a statement made thisweek by the US commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan about “offstage” contacts and dialogue taking place between the Kabul government andthe insurgents. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says in a statementdistributed to the media on Friday that Gen John Nicholson’s remarks, madeto reporters at the Pentagon from his Kabul office, were a “baseless claim”.

Nicholson said Wednesday that “mid-level, senior-level Taliban leaders” are“engaging with Afghans”, adding that unspecified internationalorganizations, foreign governments and other interested parties also areinvolved.

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Mujahid says that “American General Nicholson is making such fabricatedstatements to divert attention from his failures and keep the Washingtonmedia busy with false claims instead of exposing the failed Trump(administration’s) strategy” in Afghanistan.