City
Epaper

Mike Pompeo, Taliban deputy chief discuss intra-Afghan talks over video-call

By ANI | Updated: August 4, 2020 02:25 IST

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Taliban deputy leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar discussed the start of the intra-Afghan talks and the ongoing situation in Afghanistan, TOLOnews reported citing the group's spokesman Suhail Shaheen.

Open in App

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Taliban deputy leader Mullah Abdul Gh Baradar discussed the start of the intra-Afghan talks and the ongoing situation in Afghstan, TOLOnews reported citing the group's spokesman Suhail Shaheen.

In the discussion held via video call, the two leaders called the release of the remaining Taliban prisoners important, Shaheen was quoted as saying while adding that the US secretary of state also welcomed the Eid ceasefire.

The United States had welcomed the Taliban's declaration of a three-day ceasefire for Eid ul-Adha, acting US Ambassador to Kabul Ross Wilson had said in a tweet on Tuesday.

"I welcome the announcements of an Eid ceasefire: Afghans deserve to celebrate the holiday in peace. I look forward to both sides fulfilling their commitments and moving quickly to intra-Afghan negotiations," Wilson posted on Twitter.

The Taliban have committed to reducing violence as part of a peace agreement negotiated by the US in Doha on February 29. In addition to the mutual release of prisoners, the agreement was expected to launch intra-Afghan talks and pave the way for ending the almost two-decade-long confrontation between Kabul and the Taliban.

US and the NATO have started pulling out forces from Afghstan following Washington's peace deal with the Taliban. The second round of talks between the Taliban and the Afghstan political leadership is yet to begin.

On Sunday, the Islamic State group ISIS claimed responsibility for an over 20-hour long attack on a prison in eastern Afghstan's Jalalabad that left at least 29 people dead and facilitated the escape of several hundred of their captured members.

( With inputs from ANI )

Tags: dohaMike PompeoKabulTalibanTwitterSuhail shaheenTwitter twitterTwitter sevaTwitter cmoTwitter inc.
Open in App

Related Stories

TechnologyLinda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years

EntertainmentSquid Game Season 3 X (Twitter) Review: Netizens Call It the Darkest and Most Emotional Chapter

MumbaiMumbai: Woman Who Helped Nab Dawood Ibrahim's Aide Falls Victim to Cyber Fraud, Loses Rs 23 Lakh

TechnologyX Down Again? Elon Musk-Owned Social Media Platform Faces Second Outage Within 24 Hours

InternationalMukesh Ambani Meets US President Donald Trump, Emir of Qatar in Doha; Video Surfaces

International Realted Stories

InternationalPutin accords warm welcome to NSA Doval at Kremlin ahead of planned India visit

InternationalPM Modi receives call from Brazil President, two leaders agree to enhance cooperation in trade, energy, technology

InternationalUAE carries out 65th airdrop of aid under 'Birds of Goodness' operation, delivers over 500 tonnes of food aid to Gaza

International"China's opposition to abuse of tariffs is consistent and clear": Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo after US targets India over Russian oil

InternationalLocals rattled as Kapil Sharma's cafe in Surrey comes under gunfire again