Abdullah opposes safe zones for Taliban

KABUL and termed the move as providing sanctuaries to terrorists and allowing activities against human rights and drug trafficking.

Addressing the Council of Ministers here, the CEO said the strategy to hand over safe zones to the Taliban was presented but this plan is against the will of the people of Afghanistan.

Abdullah said Afghanistan could provide a safe zone for people who were interested in peace and stability in the country. He reiterated the offer to hand over safe zone to the Taliban was against the interest of the people.

“Handing over areas to terrorist groups from where they launch terrorist activities or drug trafficking is not the way to resolve things and may not help peace and stability in the country,” he said.

Earlier, the head of Hizb-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) Gulbuddin Hekmatyar suggested providing safe zones to the Taliban and asked the group to join an inter-Afghan dialogue.

Hekmatyar said that an office for the Taliban should open in Kabul and talks regarding how and where the safe zones should be provided.

President Ashraf Ghani had also responded that no hidden agreement would be reached with the Taliban.

Some lawmakers also contradicted with the offer to provide safe zones to the Taliban and said the move may move the country towards disintegration.

The CEO also condemned blast on Sikh and Hindu minority members in Jalalabad, the capital of eastern Nangarhar province on Sunday afternoon.

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