Taliban Will Not Meet The Afghan Government's Team For Peace Talks

In February 2020, the US signed a troop withdrawal agreement with the Taliban [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]

The Guardian/Reuters: Taliban refuses to talk to Afghan government's negotiating team

The militant group’s refusal represents a setback for US-brokered peace talks

The Taliban refused to begin talks with the Afghan government’s new negotiating team on Saturday, in a setback to the US-brokered peace process for one of the world’s longest-running conflicts.

Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the militants could not talk to the 21-member team named on Thursday as it had not been constituted taking all parties into account. The team is headed by Masoom Stanekzai, an ex-security chief and supporter of president Ashraf Ghani, and includes politicians, former officials and representatives of civil society. Five members are women.

“In order to reach true and lasting peace, the aforementioned team must be agreed upon by all effective Afghan sides so that it can represent all sides,” said Mujahid.

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WNU Editor: The Taliban are not going to negotiate as long as they continue to win on the battlefield .... Taliban Takes District Headquarters, Says It Will Not Negotiate With Afghan Government Team (RFE). More here .... Northern Afghan district falls to the Taliban (Long War Journal).

Update: To the surprise of no one, the war is escalating .... Taliban Violence Remains High Amid Peace Efforts (TOLO News).

More News On The Taliban Deciding To Not Meet The Afghan Government's Team For Peace Talks

Taliban refuses to talk to newly-formed Afghan government team -- Al Jazeera
Taliban Rejects Afghan Team for Peace Talks -- VOA
Taliban Reject Afghan Government’s Negotiation Team, Say List Contradicts Deal With US -- Sputnik

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