US responds to Afghan peace talks
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WASHINGTON- White House officials said the United States will support the Afghan government and insurgent groups who are ready to join the peace process.
One national security council official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Washington Times: "The United States will support the Afghan government and all parties ready to make peace."
"Our Afghan allies believe that a workable peace process that ends decades of war must include all elements of the Taliban, including the Haqqani Network, willing to accept peace. This war in Afghanistan must be settled among Afghans," the official said on Sunday.
This comes just days after Afghanistan’s National Security Advisor to the president Mohammad Hanif Atmar told the Washington Times government should negotiate with anyone who is reconcilable, including Haqqani network.
"We should negotiate with anyone who is reconcilable," including elements of the Haqqani Network, Atmar, told The Times on Thursday at the Afghan Embassy in Washington.
"We will not talk with anyone who is not reconcilable," he said.
This comes after President Ashraf Ghani’s peace offer to the Taliban and other insurgent groups made at the Kabul Process meeting at the end of January.
However, the Taliban has still not responded to the offer.