Door open for peace talks with Taliban: Kabul

The Afghan government says it will keep the door open for peace negotiations with Taliban militants and other groups amid reports of the emergence of differences among members of the group over its new leadership.

In a statement released on Sunday by the Afghan presidential palace, Kabul called for sincere cooperation between all parties aimed at establishing peace in the country.

“The groups which are engaged in war against their people and country must understand that they have been deceived by the conspiracies of the enemies of Afghanistan and continuing on this path which is only against the Afghan people and interests of Afghanistan will only lead to further crimes,” the statement said.

The government called on joint efforts by all sides in order to prevent “bloodshed, devastation, and conspiracies” aimed at sabotaging the peace process and security in the country.

Kabul added that it was also aware of and would monitor developments including meetings between the Taliban and Haqqani network, which recently announced its support for the group’s new leader.

During a teleconference from Germany, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani also said Kabul opposes “parallel” movements working against the country’s political system.

Peace talks between the Afghan government and Taliban militants were halted last week when the death of the militant group’s leader, Mullah Omar, was confirmed and Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour was appointed as his successor.

However, members of the Taliban, including Mullah Omar’s son, Yacoub, and the former leader’s brother, Mullah Abdul Manan, have voiced their opposition to the appointment and requested a new vote.

Some reports even say it was known that Omar had chosen the former deputy and co-founder of the movement, Mullah Baradar Akhund, who is reportedly more inclined to peace negotiations with Kabul, as his successor.

Under the current circumstances, the future of the peace talks under the group’s new leadership remains difficult to predict.

The Taliban has been engaged in a militancy against Kabul since it was overthrown following the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

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