KABUL (SW) – President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has said the U.S. talks with the Taliban are centered on the idea for an intra-Afghan and Afghan-owned peace process.
Addressing the nation on Monday, the president said foreign troops are in Afghanistan in line with an international and a bilateral agreement, and the drawdown of foreign forces from Afghanistan should take place systematically. He said efforts are underway to systematically reduce the number of foreign troops to zero.
The withdrawal of foreign troops has been a key point for discussions between the U.S. and the Taliban, and the rebels claimed an agreement has been reached in this regard.
Ghani said Afghanistan wants peace soon, but with wisdom keeping in mind the consequences of lack of awareness about the regional dynamics of politics during the era of Sardar Mohammad Dawood Khan, and the deceiving of Dr. Najibullah. He said the government is well aware of potential threats steaming from regional countries after the peace deal. He said sustainable peace would ensure the potential consequences are controlled.
The President said there would be no compromise on the national unity, territorial integrity, sovereignty, national interests and fundamental rights of the citizens.
He said the Taliban have two choices to make, either unite with the nation, or continue to be the tool of the aliens.
Zalmay Khalilzad, Special U.S. Envoy for Afghanistan Reconciliation, met Ghani in Kabul after six-day talks with the Taliban in Qatar. Both sides claim progress has been made, but the Taliban are not willing to talk to the Afghan government.
ENDS
