KABUL – New setback reported over the crucial Afghanistan peace talksbetween Afghan government and Taliban.
Sediq Sediqqi, a spokesman for the Presidential Palace, on Monday said thatthe Taliban “must” accept a ceasefire ahead of any peace talks, adding that“without a ceasefire, there would be no peace talks.”
“Without a ceasefire, we will not reach a long-lasting peace, a peace withdignity. And a reduction of violence is not practical,” said Sediqqi.
But the Taliban have prepared a plan for the reduction of violence and “arenot ready to announce any ceasefire before the peace talks with the Afghangovernment,” said a source close to the peace talks.
Faiz Mohammad Zaland, a university professor, said: “They (the Taliban) saythat issues around a ceasefire will be at the top of the agenda ofintra-Afghan negotiations.”
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The government is insisting on a ceasefire but if the Taliban does notaccept it, what will be the outcome?
Presumably referring to the new demand of the Afghan government, Haji DinMohammad, the head of the Peace and Development Party, said: “A ceasefireshould not be used as an excuse to challenge peace or continue thebloodshed in the country.”
