KABUL – The Office of the National Security Council (ONSC) has rejectedreports suggesting that the National Security Advisor Mohammad Hanif Atmarand the Intelligence Chief Masoom Stanikzai are enganged in separate talkswith the Taliban group after the deadly attacks, Khaama Press has reported.

The Office of the Natinal Security Council in a statement said, this is aclarification on the article ‘Afghan officials and Taliban talk despitewave of violence’ in which it has been referred to Afghanistan’sintelligence chief Masoom Stanikzai and its National Security ChiefMohammad Haif Atmar continue to each talk separatey to the Taliban.

The statement further added, “To clarify and redirect concerns, H.E. NSAAtmar, in private and on the record through many news agencies hasrepeatedly stated that “Teh Governmetn of Islamic Republic of Afghanistanis committed to meaninful talks with the Taliban and has the doors open.”

It also added that the High Peace Council is the soul venue for any peacenegotiation with eh Taliban. The Office of the National Security Councilstands in full support withHPC in any such processes.

This comes as the Associated Press earlier had reported that Afghanofficials are carrying out at least two tracks of talks with the Taliban,The Associated Press has learned, even after a month of brutal bombings andattacks by the militants that killed nearly 200 and despite PresidentDonald Trump’s angry rejection of any negotiations for now.

President Trump said late last month “I don’t see any talking takingplace. I don’t think we’re prepared to talk right now. President Trumpfurther added “It’s a whole different fight over there. They’re killingpeople left and right. Innocent people are being killed left and right.Bombing in the middle of children, in the middle of families — bombing,killing all over Afghanistan.”

“So we don’t want to talk with the Taliban. There may be a time, but it’sgoing to be a long time. We’re all out, and that’s taking place right now,and it’s a whole new front. And it’s a whole new set of principles thatwe’re being governed by,” he added.

Condemning the recent Taliban attacks, President Trump said “When we seewhat they’re doing and the atrocities that they’re committing, and killingtheir own people, and those people are women and children — many, manywomen and children that are totally innocent — it is horrible.”

“So there’s no talking to the Taliban. We don’t want to talk to theTaliban. We’re going to finish what we have to finish. What nobody elsehas been able to finish, we’re going to be able to do it,” he said.