Afghanistan Times
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KABUL: The government calls on all parties involved in Afghanistan’s peace process to support its plan, urging that every move toward peace should be coordinated with Kabul.
Haroon Chakhansuri, President Ghani’s spokesman said Sunday that peace efforts would give result only when they are coordinated with the government and that Taliban sit behind the negotiation table with the government.
“Not all the peace efforts, but most of them are made in the framework of government’s plans. The efforts that are made by Zalmay Khalilzad, are also in coordination with the government,” Chakhansuri said, referring to the US envoy for Afghanistan peace who has sat four times with Taliban negotiators to seek ways for peace.
“Every Afghan has the right to discuss on peace, but these discussions will give result only when direct talks with government are held and basic subjects are discussed.”
Taliban have repeatedly refused to hold talks with the government which they underrate as “US puppet”.
The militants held talks with s number of Afghan politicians this week in Moscow. Former President, Hamid Karzai who was one of the participants, called the meeting satisfactory. Taliban chief negotiator Abbas Stanekzai also called the talks “successful”.
The meeting emphasized on the foreign troops’ withdrawal and lifting the UN sanctions imposed on Taliban leaders.
The government that did not attend the Moscow meeting downplayed it, saying such meetings would not help the peace process. President Ghani’s office has accused politicians of seeking power.
The High Peace Council has also similar viewpoint. “Those efforts that are coordinated with us, we support it. But any effort that hurts national unity, is rejected by us,” Sayed Ehsan Taheri, the council’s spokesman said.
