Monitoring Desk
KABUL: Secretary of the High Peace Council, Muhammad Akram Khpalwak has said the peace body had not held any formal talks with the Taliban so far.
The High Peace Council leadership discussed various issues regarding peace and activities of the peace body in a meeting with youths in Kabul on Tuesday.
Some countries and elements did not want the success of peace process in Afghanistan, he said. He said the interference of foreign, drug peddlers and terrorist organizations were among these elements.
He said that foreign had created various hurdles against the peace process, including drug mafias and international terrorist organizations in Afghanistan.
He said the peace council had not received any response from Taliban so far.
“No formal response about peace has been received from Taliban so far. Any formal delegations have not held any formal peace talks,” he added. He said they wanted to hold negotiations with trusted and powerful Taliban leaders.
Hoping that 2018 would prove to be the year of peace and stability for Afghanistan, he said they were waiting for Taliban to give a positive response to the demand of pro-peace clerics, youths and women. The Taliban had not given any positive response to the call of peace of the Afghan nation, he said. He, however, added that various movements had been launched on the regional level for the restoration of peace to Afghanistan.
The delegations of international community and United Nations Security Council also supported the Afghan peace process during a recent visit to Kabul, he added.
Khpalwak said they had not set any conditions for talks with the Taliban, adding that they were ready to hold negotiations wherever they (Taliban) wanted.
The High Peace Council welcomed the efforts all the civil societies, political parties and figures for the restoration of peace.
On the occasion, head of High Peace Council M. Karim Khalili briefed the participants about the efficiency of the peace body. He said efforts had been launched throughout the country over the past six months for the restoration of peace.
Informal links had been held with the Taliban, he said. The High Peace Council with the coordination of the Afghan government was trying to pave the way for formal talks. The High Peace Council had formed a new and clear strategy for peace, he maintained.
