KABUL- Afghan Taliban on Tuesday expressed willingness to initiate dialoguewith the leaders of local groups resisting the United States’ “foreignoccupation”.

The stance was expressed in a statement that termed the 2001 US-ledmilitary invasion of Afghanistan an ‘ongoing tragedy’ and remained mum overAfghan President Ashraf Ghani’s recently announced peace plan. Taliban’sQatar based political office invites Afghans “who do not support theinvaders, be they jihadi personalities or otherwise” to exchange views onhow to end “foreign occupation” and establish an Islamic system and start apolitical reconciliation process in the country, it read.

The statement came after former governor Ismail Khan extended an offer toinitiate peace talks. Khan, a former Jihadi leader, had earlier told theTaliban that if they were not willing to engage in peace talks with theAfghan government then they should broker “a deal with the great family ofjihad” to resolve conflict.