KABUL (SW) – President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Saturday vowed to form the official negotiating team in time for intra-Afghan talks with the Taliban.
Addressing the inaugural session of the parliament after winter break, President Ghani said the team, which should be formed in the next three days, should defend the Constitution and national interests.
He went on to say that the government does not want to keep the proposed 5000 Taliban prisons as captives forever, but wants to release them in line with a transparent mechanism so that they do not resume terrorism.
The President asked the Wolesi Jirga (lower house) and Masharano Jirga (upper house) to nominate five and two representatives respectively for the intra-Afghan talks.
Separately, leading female politician, Fawzia Kofi demanded on Saturday that at least 40 per cent representation for women should be ensured at the proposed intra-Afghan talks.
Based on the agreement between the U.S. and Taliban, the intra-Afghan talks for peace should commence on March 10.
ENDS
