Afghan Taliban. PHOTO: AFP
Reuters: Afghan Taliban renew call for dialogue with U.S. to end war
KABUL (Reuters) - The Taliban urged the United States on Monday to begin talks to end almost 17 years of war in Afghanistan, adding to a series of signals that suggest a greater willingness to explore options for dialogue.
In its statement, two days before the start of a meeting of regional leaders in Kabul to discuss ways of ending the war, the movement said it wanted a peaceful resolution.
“The Political Office of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan calls on American officials to talk directly to the Political Office of Islamic Emirate regarding a peaceful solution to the Afghan quandary,” it said.
“It would help in finding a solution if America accepts the legitimate demands of the Afghan people and [puts] forward its own concerns and requests for discussion to the Islamic Emirate through a peaceful channel,” it said.
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WNU Editor: I have always been skeptical when the Taliban made a call for peace talks. Unless I have missed something, the Taliban have always viewed these talks as a means to isolate the Afghan government, remove foreign forces and their support of the government military, and to positioned themselves to take over whether the Afghan population wants it or not. In the meantime, the war continues .... Taliban wage fierce fight in remote western Afghanistan (Stars and Stripes/Washington Post).
