No alternative to direct talks with Taliban: Kabul

WASHINGTON (PAN political bureau within the country.

In a video tele-conference with Pentagon correspondents from Kabul on Thursday, an Afghan foreign ministry spokesman indicated they did not want direct talks between the US and the Taliban.

Janan Musazai, speaking on the eve of US special representative’s visit to Kabul for talks with President Hamid Karzai on a wide range of issues, insisted any peace negotiations needed to be Afghan-led..

“Direct negotiations as part of the peace process will have to be between Afghan parties. There’s no alternative to that,” he said, welcoming the role of and support from Pakistan and the United States in this regard.

“We want to make sure that any peace process that happens in Afghanistan and aimed at ending the war, is one that basically includes the preservation of our historic achievements over the past 10 years as a very clear condition,” he said.

He called for preserving the progress made in expanding political and social rights, including the rights of women, the progress made on free and independent media and elections, as well as cessation of hostilities.   

Musazai renewed the Afghan government’s commitment to a political solution to the war, saying that was why President Karzai had expressed his administration’s support for the establishment of an address for the Taliban. 

“We want to make sure the peace process is led and owned by the Afghan government, because we want to make sure the outcome is a dignified, inclusive and durable peace,” the spokesman concluded.

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