Afghan Taliban say not talking to Afghan government

[News_Editor]

Afghan Taliban say not talking to Afghan government

2010-10-14 09:03:42 GMT+7 (ICT)

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- The Afghan Taliban on Wednesday said that they have not engaged in secret or any kind of talks with the Afghan government in contrast with recent reports that indicated otherwise.

The announcement was made by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid who added that reports of peace talks when troops were still battling insurgents on the ground would only undermine the credibility of the government and its foreign supporters.

Mujahid also demanded foreign forces to leave the country. "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as in the past, refutes these futile claims," Mujahid said.

On the other hand, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said earlier this week that his government had unofficial contacts with the Taliban over possible ending the armed conflict that has lasted ten years.

Reports indicated that this was the first time that the Taliban representatives were fully authorized to speak for the Quetta Shura, the Afghan Taliban organization based in Pakistan, and its leader, Mohammad Omar.

Mujahid said that peace talks would represent a betrayal to the movement's fighters. He said that the reports were a scheme by Karzai to try and lure low level Taliban off the battlefield and back to civilian life.

On Tuesday, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said that Pakistan is fundamental for the success of peace talks as it is part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Pakistan helped the Taliban seize power in Afghanistan in the 1990s as the Pakistani government considered the group as a counter weight in the country to Pakistan's archenemy, India.

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