Taliban in talks with Afghan government

International Desk: The Taliban have held secret meetings with Afghan officials to discuss a ceasefire, the US military says.

The US commander in Afghanistan, Gen John Nicholson, said the talks also involved foreign governments and international organisations.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani proposed negotiations in February, an offer the Taliban did not respond to at the time.

In the past, the Taliban have mostly refused to talk to the Afghan government, a longstanding US demand.

In recent months, violence has continued with mounting casualties on both sides.

On Wednesday, the militants launched an attack on the interior ministry in Kabul, demonstrating their ability to carry out strikes in the capital.

The insurgents also said they carried out another attack on a police station, in the capital of Logar province.

The US, meanwhile, confirmed strikes against the insurgents in Helmand province with "more than 50 casualties".

Comparing the situation to Colombia - where a 50-year civil war led to a peace treaty - Gen Nicholson said violence and progress could coexist.

He would not identify the figures involved in the negotiations, except to say that they included mid- and senior-level Taliban officials.

In the February offer of talks, Mr Ghani said the Taliban could be recognised as a political party if they accepted a ceasefire and recognised the country's constitution.

Source: Agencies
 

risingbd/Dhaka/May 31, 2018/A K Azad