*ISLAMABAD – Stunning inside details of secret meeting between top USCommanders and Afghan Taliban in Islamabad have been revealed.*
*The U.S. and Taliban negotiation teams have held secret talks inIslamabad, the capital of Pakistan. *A six-member American delegation hasmet with the Taliban’s 12-member delegation during their visit to Pakistanon October 2.
According to sources informed of the Afghan peace talks, the U.S. SpecialEnvoy for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and the top commanderof NATO and U.S. Forces in Afghanistan General Scott Miller were alsopresent at the pre-scheduled meeting.
Apparently, the meeting was scheduled at the sideline of the UN GeneralAssembly in New York where the U.S. chief negotiator Ambassador Khalilzadmet with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The two sides have discussed the Afghan presidential election which tookplace on September 28 and the formation of an interim government after theannouncement of the election results, sources close to the Talibaninsurgent group told Ariana News.
“Ambassador Khalilzad wanted to know the position of Taliban if Afghanistanfails to have an elected government and forms an interim government,” saidWaheed Muzhda, a pro-Taliban political commentator.
However, Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister on Political Affairs Edris Zamansaid on Saturday that the U.S.-Taliban meeting focused on the release oftwo American prisoners.
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“The ongoing talks in Islamabad is focused on two U.S. hostages withTaliban. The talks is held between hostage takers which is Taliban and thegovernment of the United States and is mediated by Pakistan,” Mr. Zamansaid.
Minawar Shah Bahaduri, an Afghan lawmaker believes that the result of theAfghan presidential election will lead the country into a crisis andWashington will raise question on its legitimacy; therefore, the U.S. ispaving the ground for the formation of an interim government in the country.
“An interim government will be formed in order to put pressures on thegovernment and the Taliban to accept peace and at the same time to have itspermanent presence in Afghanistan,” Mr. Bahaduri said.
SOURCE:link
