Taliban urged to take part in peace talks
Print Edition
AFGHANISTAN’S new president yesterday issued an invitation to the Taliban to join a peace process backed by the international community. It was an unusual direct reference to the insurgents who have stepped up attacks aimed at bringing down his month-old government.
At a conference on Afghan peace and reconstruction in Beijing, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai indicated government forces wouldn’t back away from the fight. However, his mention of the Taliban by name marked a departure from his usual public references to them as “political opponents.”
He said: “Peace is our highest priority. We invite the political opposition, particularly the Taliban, to join and enter Afghan dialogue, and ask all of our international partners to support an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.
“We must not and will not permit groups pursuing grand illusions to use our country as the battleground or launching-pad against the international system,” he added.
It wasn’t immediately clear if there was any particular significance in his reference to the Taliban by name.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said China has faith in Afghanistan’s ability to solve its own problems, but that its neighbors should help create a peaceful environment without interfering in its internal affairs.
China said earlier it had received a pledge from Ghani Ahmadzai to help combat a radical anti-China group known as the East Turkistan Islamic Movement.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
