Afghan government ready to negotiate with the Taliban

Afghanistan's National Security Adviser said that the government is ready to start a new round of peace talks with the Taliban.

Iran Press/Asia: According to Iran Press News Agency, National Security Adviser of Afghanistan Hamdullah Mohib, said in UNSC meeting on Monday that Afghan government is ready to start peace talks with the Taliban militant group directly in order to put an end to the civil war and provide secure conditions.

He also added that its time to end wasting the lives of innocent people.

Noting that the upcoming 'traditional' Loya Jirga, for the peace process in Afghanistan, Hamdullah Mohib added: "The Jirga which is a symbol of Afghan national determination, will be in favour of peace talks."

"Peace is desired by both, the government and also the nation and this will come to be if Afghans lead the peace process. This will be a good opportunity for the Taliban militant group," Afghan National Security Adviser reiterated. 

Mohib added that "at present near sixty percent of Afghan people live under the poverty line, the Afghan economy is struggling, and investors are leaving the country."

The Taliban has rejected Kabul's offer of peace talks many times and claims the Afghan government is not authorised to take part in the peace talks.

The Taliban’s five-year rule over at least three-quarters of Afghanistan came to an end with the US-led invasion in 2001, but 17 years on, the militant group continues to be active in much of Afghanistan.

Currently, Kabul only controls 55 percent of the country’s territory, while the militants have a grip on 12 percent of Afghan soil, according to a report by the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction published in October last year. About a third of the country remains contested.

The ISIS terrorist group has also used the mayhem in Afghanistan to establish a foothold there. 104/211/209

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