KABUL (SW): The High Peace Council Chief Mohammad Karim Khalili on Monday underlined the role religious scholars can play in bringing the Taliban to the negotiation table.
Addressing a moot in this connection, Mohammad Akram Khpalwak, secretary of the HPC and Advisor to the President, said the government is ready to welcome the rebels for an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process based on set principles. He said there are no pre-conditions, and the government is ready to discuss the mechanism of foreign forcess’ troops as well.
Urging the religious scholars to mediate between the government and the Taliban, Khpalwak said if the Taliban want the religious scholars are relatively better guarantors than the foreigners for the talks. He said if the Taliban continued to defy repeated calls for peace talks, it would yield negative consequences.
The HPC Secretary urged the Taliban to take advantage of the opportunity, and join the peace process with the religious scholars serving as guarantors.
Abdul Salam Zaif, Taliban-era ambassador to Pakistan, said on the occasion the Taliban should be provided with a political office. Mulla Ayaz Niazi, one of the religious scholars, said on the occasion that it is the religious duty of all Afghans to strive for peace.
ENDS
