The Afghan government will only consider making a “legitimate” peace with insurgents after national elections are held this month, an official told reporters on September 14.
U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly called off talks with Taliban earlier this month. The Afghan government was largely shut out of the negotiations and concerned that any finalised U.S.-Taliban deal would delay the elections while a national unity government was formed, forcing the exit of President Ashraf Ghani.
“Nothing will impede the presidential election from happening,” said the Afghan presidential spokesman, Sediq Seddiqi. He also suggested that there will be a “big change” toward improving security across the country ahead of the voting and fears over more violence.
Mr. Sediqqi pointed to a Taliban delegation’s visit to Russia, just days after Mr. Trump called off talks, to say that the insurgents are faced with a “political failure” of their own. He added that the Taliban should hold talks directly with the Afghan government, which it has refused to do so far.
Taliban team in Moscow
On Friday, a Taliban negotiating team visited Russia, where it held consultations with Zamir Kabulov, President Vladimir Putin’s envoy for Afghanistan.
The Interfax news agency cited an unidentified Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying that the meeting underlined the necessity of renewing talks between the U.S. and the Taliban, and that the Taliban confirmed its readiness to continue dialogue with Washington. It was the Taliban’s first international visit following the collapse of talks with Washington. The team was led by Mullah Sher Mohammad Stanikzai.
Mr. Sediqqi said that the Afghan government has suspended its own peace efforts for now.
Separately in eastern Kapisa province, a bomb killed at least three civilians who had gathered to watch a volleyball game, said Nasrat Rahimi, spokesman for the Interior Ministry. Mr. Rahimi added that two other civilians were wounded when Friday’s blast occurred in the Tagab district. No group immediately claimed responsibility.
Also in southern Kandahar province, in an insider attack, two policemen turned on their colleagues and shot dead at least nine police officers at a checkpoint, according to a provincial official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The attack happened in the Shah Wali Kot district late on Friday night and both attackers fled the area, the official said. A Taliban spokesman, Qari Yusouf Ahmadi, claimed responsibility for the attack.
