ISLAMABAD – Afghan Taliban wants to have Pakistan and Saudi Arabia asguarantors for peace pact with United States, it has been revealed.
Taliban officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the USdelegation was pressing for a six-month ceasefire as well as an agreementto name Taliban representatives to a future caretaker government.
The officials said the Taliban, fighting to drive foreign forces fromAfghanistan and bring in their version of strict Islamic law, wereresisting a ceasefire as they felt it would damage their cause and help USand Afghan forces.
“If these three countries – Saudi Arabia, UAE and Pakistan – becomeguarantors and the US appoints the head of a caretaker government inAfghanistan that we nominate, then we can think about a ceasefire,” onesenior Taliban official said.
There was no immediate comment from the US embassy in Kabul.
Read Top Stories
The latest round of diplomacy comes about a year after the United Statessent thousands of extra troops to Afghanistan and stepped up air strikes torecord levels, with the aim of pushing the Taliban to accept talks.
However, despite US insistence that any peace settlement must be agreedbetween Afghans, the Taliban have refused to talk directly with officialsfrom the Kabul government, which they consider an illegitimate,foreign-appointed regime.
“Talks revolved around withdrawal of occupation forces from Afghanistan,ending the oppression being carried out by the United States and her alliesand views were exchanged with the said countries about peace andreconstruction of Afghanistan,” Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahidsaid in a statement.
