Taliban attack won’t affect peace process: Karzai

Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Saturday said Taliban’s attack on his palace in Kabul will not deter his government from forging ahead with the peace process. File photo

Afghanistan’s President says the Taliban’s daylight attack on his palace in Kabul will not deter his government from forging ahead with the peace process.

Speaking on Saturday alongside British Prime Minister David Cameron in Kabul, President Hamid Karzai tried to brush aside Tuesday’s thwarted attack, saying “I wish they (the Taliban) would spend all the time attacking the presidential palace and leave the rest of Afghanistan alone.”

The Taliban have indicated they are willing to start peace talks at a new office in Qatar, but have not renounced violence and attacks remain regular. They have also not yet made contact to try and initiate a beginning to the talks.