ISLAMABAD – New inside details of the Afghan Taliban and the US governmentsecret negotiations have been revealed.
The United States is pressing the Taliban to agree on a ceasefire andengage in intra-Afghan talks before finalizing an agreement withWashington, sources familiar with the talks have said.
“The Taliban are ready to announce a ceasefire once an agreement is signed.But before the signing of the agreement, the Taliban so far is not ready toannounce a permanent ceasefire,” said Jalaluddin Shinwari, a former memberof the Taliban.
“A couple of issues that the US has raised in its talks with the Talibaninclude a nationwide ceasefire and the start of intra-Afghan talks,” saidFaiz Mohammad Zaland, a political analyst.
But the Taliban have conditions:
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“The intra-Afghan talks will be possible on condition that an agreement issigned with the US for the complete withdrawal of foreign troops from thecountry,” said Suhain Shaheen, a spokesman for the Taliban’s politicaloffice in Doha.
The Afghan government meanwhile has said that it will be a difficult taskto reach to a durable peace in the country unless the Taliban agree on aceasefire and be accountable about their links with Pakistan.
