Kabul: Afghanistan praised the “sincere efforts of its allies” Sunday afterUS President Donald Trump said he had called off negotiations with theTaliban, apparently ending a year-long diplomatic push to exit America’slongest war.
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“The Afghan government, in relation to the peace, appreciates the sincereefforts of its allies and is committed to working together with the UnitedStates and other allies to bring a lasting peace,” said a statement fromPresident Ashraf Ghani’s office.
The statement came after Trump tweeted late Saturday that he had plannedunprecedented, albeit separate, talks with the Taliban and with GhaniSunday at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland.
The secret talks would have come after months of diplomatic wranglingbetween the US and the Taliban over a deal that would allow Washington tobegin withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan.
But after the Taliban killed 12 people in a single attack in Kabul thisweek, including a US soldier, Trump said he “immediately cancelled themeeting and called off peace negotiations”.
His announcement left the withdrawal deal shrouded in uncertainty.
The US-backed government in Kabul had eyed the deal with deep unease andlong complained of being sidelined from the talks.
“We have always insisted that a real peace can only be achieved if theTaliban stop killing Afghans and accept a ceasefire, and face-to-face talkswith the Afghan government,” the statement from Ghani´s office said.
A presidential election is scheduled for September 28, and Kabul “insists”the polls should be held to establish “a strong, lawful and legitimategovernment so that it can take forward the peace process with wisdom”.