KABUL – Taliban supreme leader Mullah Hebatullah Akhundzada has offereddirect negotiations with the United States in a bid to end the ongoingconflict.
“The only path to rescuing ourselves from all these calamities is for allAmerican and other occupying forces to leave our country and for anindependent, Islamic, intra-Afghan government to take root. Our Jihad beganfor this exact purpose and in conjunction to our armed Jihad, we have keptthe doors of understanding and negotiations open to reach this objectiveand appointed the Political Office of the Islamic Emirate as the exclusiveavenue of activity in this regard,” Hebatullah said in a message releasedahead of Eid.
He again called on the US to hold direct talks with the group and said ifthe American officials believe in a peaceful resolution, then they mustresolve the crisis through dialogue.
“If the American officials truly believe in a peaceful end to the Afghanimbroglio then they must directly present themselves to the negotiationtable so that this tragedy (invasion) – the destructive effects of whichmainly harm the American and Afghan people – can be resolved through talks.
“The biggest mistake on part of the American officials is that theyapproach every problem with stubbornness but force cannot yield results inevery case,” the message read.
Following the announcement of a temporary ceasefire by Ashraf Ghani-ledgovernment with the Taliban last Thursday, the United States had said itwas ready to participate in talks with the Taliban.
Deputy Assistant to US President Donald Trump and Senior Director forCentral Asia at the National Security Council, Lisa Curtis, said US cannotact on behalf of Afghan officials in the peace talks with the Taliban, butthey want to participate in the talks.
“The United States is ready to participate in the discussion, but we cannotserve as a substitute for the Afghan government and the Afghan people. Apolitical settlement must be negotiated through a process that isAfghan-led and Afghan-owned,” said Curtis.
After Ghani’s announcement, the Taliban also responded and announced athree-day ceasefire, over Eid, on their part. However, this did not includeforeign forces.
The ceasefire announcement was warmly welcomed by major allies ofAfghanistan.
Haibtullah also lashed out at the Afghan religious scholars who recentlyissued an edict against the war in Afghanistan, the Khaama Press reported.
“My message specifically to the Ulema (religious scholars) of Afghanistanis that America and her allies have been defeated in nearly every aspect ofthis war, therefore, they are currently seeking support of scholars fortheir vested interests,” he said.
Although Taliban have long been advocating for face-to-face talks with theAmericans, it is the first time the Taliban chief has floated the idea amidfresh diplomatic efforts to push for a political solution to the problem.