Taliban to mull 3-month truce proposal: US negotiator

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan

The Taliban leadership in Afghanistan will consider the proposal of a three-month ceasefire in the country, the top U.S. peace negotiator said on Thursday.

Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan, visited Kabul on Wednesday after holding talks with the Taliban and representatives of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.

The Kabul government’s delegation was also present in Abu Dhabi, but the Taliban declined to meet it.

In an interview with Afghanistan’s Tolo News, Khalilzad termed the Taliban’s refusal to meet Kabul government’s delegation as “a mistake.”

“The countries who were present there, their reactions to this stance of Taliban was very negative, and questions were raised on whether the Taliban really wanted peace," Khalilzad said.

He added the Taliban delegation acknowledged there is no military solution to the conflict.

“The Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates’ suggestion was that negotiations should be held on all issues for three months and a ceasefire should be announced during the negotiations,” Khalilzad said, adding the Taliban said they would consult their leaders on it.

On Wednesday, Zabihullah Mujahed, the Taliban spokesman, said in a statement the talks were focused on the exit of foreign troops, an end to “blindly and deadly air raids on civilians” and release of prisoners.