Govt-Taliban talks to begin soon: MoFA

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Tuesday said regional countries and the international community have once again intensified efforts to revive the Afghan peace process.

MoFA spokesman Sibghatullah Ahmadi told a press conference here that efforts by regional and cross-regional countries were underway for facilitating peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government.

He said discussions over the nature of negotiations were ongoing so both sides reach a final agreement on putting the conflict in Afghanistan to an end.

On the other hand, Ahamdi confirmed the death of two Afghan refugees in a camp in Greece, saying investigations into the incident were underway.

“A delegation is tasked to investigate the issue and action on the regard would be taken soon”, he added.

Ahmadi, on the other hand, said that Tajikistan handed over 48 Afghan prisoners to Afghanistan following an agreement between acting Afghan foreign minister and his Tajik counterpart.

He said the prisoners would spend their remaining jail terms inside Afghanistan.

A source within MoFA, who wished to go unnamed, said that Zalmay Khalilzad, the US special representative for the Afghan reconciliation, has been in talks about the Afghan peace process with India, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Russia and China.

The source said these countries had reached an agreement over the Afghan peace process and intra-Afghan talks would also start soon.

Talks between the Taliban and the US were cancelled last month after US President Donald Trump ordered so.

The Afghan government then also ceased all peace related activities.

mds/ma