The Afghan government will only consider making a 'legitimate' truce with insurgents after national elections are held this month, an official says, following the sudden halt in U.S.-Taliban peace talks.
Afghan Presidential Spokesman Sediq Seddqi gives a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019. Seddqi said that the priority for his government is to hold national elections later this month - rather than reach a peace deal with insurgents.
“Nothing will impede the presidential election from happening,” said the Afghan presidential spokesman, Sediq Seddiqi. Sediqqi pointed to a Taliban delegation’s visit to Russia, just days after Trump called off talks, to say the insurgents are faced with a “political failure” of their own. He added that the Taliban should hold talks directly with the Afghan government — which they have refused to do — rather than foreign powers.
It was the Taliban’s first international visit following the collapse of talks with Washington. The team was led by Mullah Sher Mohammad Stanikzai. Separately in eastern Kapisa province, a bomb killed at least three civilians who had gathered to watch a volleyball game, said Nasrat Rahimi, spokesman for the Interior Ministry.
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