KABUL (SW) – Amrullah Saleh, the first vice president, has said the Taliban would never hesitate to kill the government’s entire negotiating team if they got a chance.
He said this in response to the attempt on the life of Fawzia Koofi, a female member of the government's negotiating team who was wounded in an armed attack on the Parwan – Kabul highway on Friday.
No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The VP wrote on his official Facebook page that only the Taliban and like-minded people have interests in silencing such voices and opposing diversity in the society. Saleh said the Taliban see the entire society divided in two groups i.e. the Talibans and those obeying them.
The first vice president emphasized this ‘medieval mindset’ would take time to fade away. "We will take strong military and security measures to take us closer to peace. The Taliban will not reconcile with preaching alone. "
Meanwhile, the U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation has also condemned the attempt on the life Fawzia Koofi and dubbed it as an effort to delay and disrupt the peace process.
In a series of tweets, he said Fawzia is an important voice, a member of the inclusive Islamic Republic negotiating team and has been a strong advocate of women's rights. “We are relieved she escaped without serious injury. I call on all sides who seek peace to not only condemn the attack but to accelerate the peace process and start intra-Afghan negotiations ASAP”, he tweeted.
ENDS.
