KABUL (SW) – The Taliban insurgents have discarded reports about a trip to Iran for talks in connection with the peace process.
In conversation with Salam Watandar, Suhail Shaheen, spokesman for the Taliban’s Qatar office, said no decision has been made in connection with any such a trip. He said the Taliban leadership is busy in consultation over the proposed seventh round of talks with the U.S.
The two sides have so far held six round of talks, but there has been no breakthrough.
Analysts believe the Taliban insurgents have declined Chinese call for ceasefire in Afghanistan.
Based on media reports, Mulla Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy chief and head of their office in Qatar, recently held a meeting with a Chinese delegation in China.
This comes as the top U.S. peace negotiator, Zalmay Khalilzad, Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, has embarked on a trip to a number of capitals in connection the peace talks. Khalilzad also held meetings with President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and other officials in Kabul.
ENDS
