KABUL – Afghan Taliban has said they “categorically reject” a statementmade by the US commander of coalition forces in Afghanistanlink> about”off-stage” dialogue taking place between Afghan officials and the armedgroup.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid issued a statement on Thursday inwhich he called the claim by General John Nicholson “baseless”.
“American General Nicholson is making such fabricated statements to divertattention from his failures and keep the Washington media busy with falseclaims instead of exposing the failed [US President Donald] Trump strategyfor Afghanistan to the American people,” Mujahid said.
“The policy of Islamic Emirate regarding talks and negotiations had beenfrequently announced and it does not have any secret layers.”
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General Nicholson on Wednesday told reporters at the Pentagonlink> from hisKabul office that “what you’re seeing right now is a lot of the diplomaticactivity and dialogue is occurring off the stage, and it’s occurring atmultiple levels.
“So you see mid-level, senior-level Taliban leaders engaging with Afghans.”
That statement is at odds with the Taliban setting the withdrawal offoreign forces from the country as a precondition for talks.
The US and NATOlink> formallyconcluded their combat mission in Afghanistan at the end of 2014, but stillprovide support to the Afghan forces.Spring offensive
Fighting between the Taliban and security forces has intensified since thearmed group announced its annual spring offensive in April.
Violence has spread across Afghanistan in recent weeks with heavy fightingin the provinces of Badakhshan, Baghlan and Faryab in the north to Farah inthe west.
In May, the Taliban said they would not target Afghan police and militaryin the country if they leave their ranks.
The Taliban were removed from power in 2001 after the US-led forces invadedthe country following the deadly attack on World Trade Center in New York.