Afghanistan government rejects reports of secret talks with Taliban
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KABUL - The Office of the National Security Council (ONSC) has rejected reports suggesting that the National Security Advisor Mohammad Hanif Atmar and the Intelligence Chief Masoom Stanikzai are enganged in separate talks with the Taliban group after the deadly attacks, Khaama Press has reported.
The Office of the Natinal Security Council in a statement said, this is a clarification on the article ‘Afghan officials and Taliban talk despite wave of violence’ in which it has been referred to Afghanistan’s intelligence chief Masoom Stanikzai and its National Security Chief Mohammad Haif Atmar continue to each talk separatey to the Taliban.
The statement further added, “To clarify and redirect concerns, H.E. NSA Atmar, in private and on the record through many news agencies has repeatedly stated that “Teh Governmetn of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is 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 peace negotiation with eh Taliban. The Office of the National Security Council stands in full support withHPC in any such processes.
This comes as the Associated Press earlier had reported that Afghan officials are carrying out at least two tracks of talks with the Taliban, The Associated Press has learned, even after a month of brutal bombings and attacks by the militants that killed nearly 200 and despite President Donald Trump’s angry rejection of any negotiations for now.
President Trump said late last month “I don’t see any talking taking place. I don’t think we’re prepared to talk right now. President Trump further added “It’s a whole different fight over there. They’re killing people 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’s going 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 that we’re being governed by,” he added.
Condemning the recent Taliban attacks, President Trump said “When we see what they’re doing and the atrocities that they’re committing, and killing their own people, and those people are women and children — many, many women and children that are totally innocent — it is horrible.”
“So there’s no talking to the Taliban. We don’t want to talk to the Taliban. We’re going to finish what we have to finish. What nobody else has been able to finish, we’re going to be able to do it,” he said.
