KABUL: Senior Taliban leaders along with President Ashraf Ghani were going to meet at Camp David on September 8, but the September 6 attack prompted US President Trump to pull out saying that ‘Taliban do not have the power to negotiate if they were unable to agree to a ceasefire during talks”.
However, according to Stanikzai, the Taliban had done nothing wrong. While talking to the BBC he said: “They [US] had killed thousands of Talibans according to them but, in the meantime, if one [US] soldier has been killed that doesn’t mean they should show that reaction because there is no ceasefire from either side.”
“From our side, our doors are open for negotiations,” he added. “So we hope the other side also rethink their decision regarding the negotiation.”
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the Taliban attack and said that they must begin to demonstrate a genuine commitment to peace.
US, Taliban resume push for peace at Doha talks
Stanikzai added that a ceasefire between the Taliban and foreign troops would only have come into effect after the agreement was signed.
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Both sides appeared to be close to end the 18-year conflict after the ninth round of US-Taliban talks resumed in Doha in August. The Taliban have been holding peace talks with the US for nearly a year but refuse to recognise or negotiate with the Afghan government. (INP)
