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'Decent progress' but no breakthrough in talks at Moscow, says Taliban

By ANI | Published: May 31, 2019 4:30 AM

The Taliban on Thursday said that "decent progress" was made by the group with Kabul government officials during peace talks held here with the aim to end the 18-year long war in Afghstan.

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The Taliban on Thursday said that "decent progress" was made by the group with Kabul government officials during peace talks held here with the aim to end the 18-year long war in Afghstan.

The group, however, stated that there had been no breakthrough and that further talks would be needed, Al Jazeera reported, quoting a Taliban official who had attended the talks.

The Taliban delegation, led by chief negotiator Mullah Baradar Akhund, met Afghan politicians, including senior regional leaders and candidates, planning to challenge President Ashraf Gh in this year's presidential election, as diplomatic efforts to end the Afghan war gather pace.

In addition, the Taliban insisted that international forces must leave Afghstan for peace to be agreed.

"The Islamic Emirate wants peace but the first step is to remove obstacles to peace and end the occupation of Afghstan," Baradar was quoted as saying.

The Taliban, overthrown by the US-backed forces weeks after the September 11, 2001 attacks, refers to the country as the Islamic Emirate of Afghstan.

Meanwhile, the meeting in Moscow was opened on Tuesday by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who said that his country sees peace as the only possible scenario of settlement in Afghstan.

Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, Taliban delegates reiterated their position that no ceasefire could be possible while foreign forces remained inside Afghstan.

Sher Mohammad Abbas Stkzai, Taliban's political chief, was quoted as saying that "no other option" was possible.

Taliban officials have been talking to the US diplomats for months about the terms of withdrawal of more than 23,000 US and NATO coalition troops from Afghstan.

They have also reached a draft agreement on some issues, but no new date for the next round of talks has been set and many obstacles remain.

The Taliban's refusal to deal directly with Gh's government in Kabul, which the group dismisses as a "puppet" regime, remains one of the key issues.

( With inputs from ANI )

Tags: BaradarMullah Baradar AkhundSergey Lavrov
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