Kabul voices fresh concerns about US-Taliban deal

KABUL recently reached ‘in principle’ on ending America's longest war.

Presidential spokesman Sediq Seddiqi asked for clarifications about the agreement and its risks to avoid "unpleasant consequences."

He said the Afghan government shared the concerns raised by several former US ambassadors to Afghanistan.

On Tuesday, their joint statement warned that a full US troop withdrawal that moves too quickly and without requiring the Taliban to meet conditions, such as reducing violence, could lead to "total civil war."

US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad showed the draft of the deal to President Ashraf Ghani earlier this week, saying it only needs President Donald Trump's approval.

The Presidential Palace today expressed concern over the US-Taliban peace agreement and called for explanation.

Seddiqi tweeted: “The Afghans want peace and the government is the initiator of peace process.”

“We therefore seek further clarifications about this document so that we can thoroughly assess potential threats and prevent them.”

Seddiqi added the Consultative Loya Jirga on peace, offering unconditional peace talks and last year’s ceasefire were practical steps the government had taken to enable the peace talks.

The Afghan government supported any progress with regard to the peace process, which could result in genuine and sustainable peace and end to the violence in the country, he said.

The main concern of the Afghan government regarding the US-Taliban peace deal, however, was how to prevent and address its latent threats, risks and implications, he said.

The 9^th round of talks between US and Taliban representatives ended without any final deal in Qatari capital of Doha last week.

sa/ma