KABUL – Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has expressed hope of holding directtalks with Taliban insurgents to achieve peace in the country.
Ghani gave an exclusive interview with NHK in Tokyo on Tuesday.
The Taliban and the United States began peace talks last year. They wereclose to agreeing on a partial withdrawal of US forces from the country,but talks were suspended last month following a terror attack by theTaliban.
Ghani said a possible troop withdrawal should be discussed with the Afghangovernment, expressing displeasure about his government’s exclusion fromthe negotiations.
The Taliban reject direct talks with the government, which they call apuppet of the US.
Read Top Stories
But the president said, “Peace will only come when the legitimategovernment of Afghanistan and the Taliban enter into direct negotiations.”
About the possibility of the Taliban joining politics if peace is achieved,Ghani said he would be delighted if the Taliban turn themselves into apolitical party.
He stressed that the insurgent group should try to make their voices heardthrough elections rather than resorting to violence.
