Kabul Makes Unprecedented ‘Overtures’ to Taliban: Abdullah
Chief Executive of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah told the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday that Kabul in the last year has made an “unprecedented” offer of unconditional peace talks to the Taliban as well as the chance to operate as a legitimate political group.
Chief Executive of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah told the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday that Kabul in the last year has made an “unprecedented” offer of unconditional peace talks to the Taliban as well as the chance to operate as a legitimate political group.
Abdullah, who rules Afghanistan with President Ashraf Ghani as part of a unity government agreement, told the U.N. General Assembly in New York: since we last met [last year], Afghanistan has turned a page and made unprecedented overtures to the Taliban to be part of a credible Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process that could lead to a just and comprehensive political settlement through talks and reconciliation.”
“On several occasions, we have pledged our commitment to unconditional intra-Afghan dialogue and the restoration of all rights and privileges for those who agree to end the cycle of violence. We even announced a unilateral ceasefire earlier this year that was agreed to by the Taliban for a three-day period and gave the Afghans a glimpse of what peace can look and feel like.”
President Ghani suggested an unprecedented peace offer to the Taliban during Kabul Process two conference last year.
However, in recent months, the US Trump administration has intensified its efforts to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table.
U.S. has appointed former diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad as the Trump administration’s special advisor to Afghanistan to promote the peace negotiations.
Despite the ongoing efforts, the Taliban bypassed the National Unity Government and have started direct talks with the Americans as well as continuing to its wreak havoc in the country.
