U.S. General meets Taliban leaders to discuss reduction in violence

The militants have accused Washington of violating pact

An Afghan soldier guarding a checkpoint near the Bagram base earlier this month.

The head of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan has met with Taliban leaders to discuss a reduction in violence in the war-weary country, officials said on Saturday, with the insurgents accusing the Americans of violating a landmark agreement.

Washington signed a key deal with the Taliban in February that promised the withdrawal of U.S. and foreign troops from Afghanistan by next summer, provided the militants start talks with Kabul and adhere to other guarantees.

U.S. General Scott Miller held discussions with the group in Doha on Friday night, U.S. forces spokesman Sonny Leggett said. “General Miller met with Taliban leadership last night as part of the military channel established in the agreement. The meeting was about the need to reduce the violence,” he said.

Suhail Shaheen, a Taliban spokesman, said the meeting was about the “implementation of the agreement as well as its violations, particularly attacks and night raids in non-combat areas”.

The Taliban has accused U.S. forces of aiding the Afghan government with air support, causing civilian casualties. The U.S. has denied the accusations.

‘False allegations’

A U.S. defence official accused the Taliban of making false allegations in a bid to pressure the U.S. into pushing forward a prisoner release swap with Kabul.

The deal requires the Afghan government — which was not a signatory to the accord — to free up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners, and for the militants to release 1,000 pro-government captives in return.

A Taliban team met with the government to discuss a comprehensive prisoner swap last week, but walked out of the talks soon after officials offered a piecemeal release of the prisoners.