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           Taliban Casts Doubt on Peace Talks With Afghan Government

   by Ayaz Gul

   Afghanistan's Taliban has cast further doubt on prospects for peace
   talks with the Kabul government.

   In a Pashto language statement given to VOA Saturday, the Taliban said
   its leadership has not yet decided to engage in peace talks with the
   Kabul government because it believes no such effort will be productive
   until all foreign forces leave the country, sanctions on insurgent
   leaders are removed and Taliban prisoners are released.

   The statement said U.S. night raids in Afghanistan are still
   continuing. It added that fresh American forces have deployed to the
   battlefield and that Afghan forces have also intensified their
   operations. It said in the light of these developments any peace talks
   will be meaningless.

   Dampened hopes

   The Taliban statement has effectively dampened hopes for the peace
   talks to start any time soon.

   Afghanistan's ambassador to Pakistan, Hazrat Omer Zakhilwal, expressed
   optimism Friday that peace talks would start within days, telling VOA
   that "there is a lot happening in the background" to get the talks
   under way. He said the planned starting date of the first week in March
   was "indicative" that plans are moving forward.

   But a Pakistani security official with knowledge of efforts Islamabad
   is making to persuade the Taliban's Qatar-based political office to
   send someone, said "no headway has been achieved so far."

   The official, requesting anonymity, told VOA the talks are "not
   happening this week because no one from their [Taliban] side has yet
   agreed" to come to Islamabad.

   ''

   The four-way talks are expected to involve diplomats from Afghanistan,
   Pakistan, China and the United States, as well as Taliban
   representatives.

   US support for peace process
   In a video conference with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Friday,
   President Barack Obama stressed U.S. support for a peace process that
   he says "reduces violence and ensures lasting stability in Afghanistan
   and the region."

   White House officials said both presidents intend to use the July NATO
   summit in Warsaw to reaffirm international support for peace in
   Afghanistan.

   Obama also congratulated Ghani for the progress he has made, including
   record government revenues and efforts to fight corruption, and praised
   the bravery and sacrifices of Afghan security forces.

   ''

   Obama announced late last year he is postponing the withdrawal of most
   U.S. forces in Afghanistan one year until he leaves office in January
   2017.

   U.S. troops are training Afghan forces in taking full responsibility
   for providing their own security against the Taliban and other
   militants.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/taliban-casts-doubt-on-peace-talks/32
   20977.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/taliban-casts-doubt-on-peace-talks/3220977.html