KABUL – *The Taliban have rejected the Afghan government’s peace proposalbeing offered to the group at the Kabul Process II conference on Wednesday.*

The rejection came in reply to an “Open Letter” published this week in theNew Yorker magazine in which the Taliban was urged to accept talks with theKabul government.

“Our country has been occupied, which has led to an American-style supposedAfghan government being imposed upon us,” the Taliban response said.

“And your view that we talk to them and accept their legitimacy is the sameformula adopted by America to win the war,” it said, adding that the KabulProcess II meeting was simply aimed at seeking the “surrender” of theTaliban.

In reaction, the Afghan Chief Executive office’s Deputy Spokesman OmaidMaisam said that the government will reconsider its decision if the Talibancontinue to cause horror, bloodshed and refuse peace offers.

Some political commentators, however, believe that Afghanistan’s peace isrelated to the actions of intelligence in the region.

“We are victims of the rivalry between countries involved in the region –including Iran-Saudi Arabia, Pakistan-India and the United States -Russia,”said Ahmad Sayedi, former Afghan diplomat to Pakistan and a politicalanalyst.

The government in its peace plan has proposed a cease-fire, release ofprisoners, the removal of sanctions, and recognition of the Taliban as alegitimate political group.