Taliban will 'never talk' unless foreign forces leave
Monday, 1 October 2007
KANDAHAR, Sept 30 (AFP): Afghanistan's Taliban militia Sunday rejected peace overtures by President Hamid Karzai, insisting they would never negotiate as long as international soldiers were in the country.
The Taliban is also not interested in government positions, the movement's purported main spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi told AFP.
Karzai said Saturday he would "immediately" offer the militia posts in his government if they gave up a bloody insurgency.
He also said he was ready for peace talks with the Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, who is wanted by the United States, if this could lead to a way out of the grinding conflict.
But Ahmadi dismissed Karzai's statements, which came hours after one of the deadliest Taliban bomb attacks in Kabul killed 30 people, as "nothing new."
"Taliban are not interested in government posts-ministries or anything. We want the withdrawal of foreign forces and we stand by our position," he said.
"As long as they have not withdrawn, we'll never talk with the Kabul administration."
Meanwhile, Afghan officials say Taleban militants have released four International Red Cross employees who were abducted earlier this week in central Afghanistan.
Officials say the four men - one from Burma, one from Macedonia and two from Afghanistan - were freed Saturday. They were kidnapped Wednesday in central Wardak province.
The Taliban is also not interested in government positions, the movement's purported main spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi told AFP.
Karzai said Saturday he would "immediately" offer the militia posts in his government if they gave up a bloody insurgency.
He also said he was ready for peace talks with the Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, who is wanted by the United States, if this could lead to a way out of the grinding conflict.
But Ahmadi dismissed Karzai's statements, which came hours after one of the deadliest Taliban bomb attacks in Kabul killed 30 people, as "nothing new."
"Taliban are not interested in government posts-ministries or anything. We want the withdrawal of foreign forces and we stand by our position," he said.
"As long as they have not withdrawn, we'll never talk with the Kabul administration."
Meanwhile, Afghan officials say Taleban militants have released four International Red Cross employees who were abducted earlier this week in central Afghanistan.
Officials say the four men - one from Burma, one from Macedonia and two from Afghanistan - were freed Saturday. They were kidnapped Wednesday in central Wardak province.