Extension of sanctions impediment to peace: Taliban

KABUL said on Thursday the action constituted a stumbling-block to peace.

Recently, the UN Security Council’s special session on Afghanistan was informed that the 15-member body had extended restrictions on the Taliban for another year.

In response, Taliban said the UN had extended the restrictionsat a time when faint hopes for peace in the country had emerged. The group also slammed the Afghan government for welcoming the UN decision.

The move sabotaged the renewed reconciliation push, a statement from the insurgent outfit said, accusing foreign troops of resuming airstrikes in Helmand, conducting night raids and supporting Daesh.

It added:“Theextended restrictions, Daesh activities, anti-peace steps by the government and relocation of British troops in Helmand are hurdles to peace … paving the way for the continuation of war.”

The first round of direct peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government took place in Murree, a tourist resort near Islamabad, in the first week of July. The Pakistan-brokered talks were attended by US and Chinese representatives as observers.

However, the second round of talks was cancelled after the announcement of the death of Taliban’s supreme leader Mullah Omar.

The Afghan government never opposedthe peace process, said the president’s deputy spokesman, Zafar Hashimi. “As a constitutionally elected government, we never slammed the doors on peace talks with Taliban.”

He explained the government was ready for peace talks with all Afghans who embraced the Constitution, shunned the insurgency and joined the reconciliation drive.

myn/mud