Taliban accuse
US of delaying peace process after call for violence reduction
Monitoring Report
KABUL: Afghanistan’s Taliban on Tuesday accused the United States of hampering peace negotiations in response to the top American diplomat’s comments that a reduction in violence was needed before a deal to end years of war could be struck. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday said during a visit to Uzbekistan that “demonstrable evidence” of a reduction in Taliban violence was necessary for a peace agreement with the group.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said issues from the American end, including a tweet by US President Donald Trump halting the signing of an agreement last year, were the reason for challenges in the peace process.
“Mr Pompeo should not shift the blame. Our stance is principled and united, and our policy is not shaky like the opposite side,” said Mujahid in a statement on messaging service Whatsapp.
Trump abruptly called off the talks to end the 18-year war in a Tweet in September after a US soldier was killed in an attack by the militant group.