Taliban denies report of holding secret peace talks with Afghan gov't

Taliban outfit on Wednesday rejected the reports on holding secret talks on peace with Afghan government as baseless, a statement of the armed group sent to media said.

"No talks have been held with officials from Kabul regime, neither in Qatar, nor in other place and any report on the subject is baseless and fabricated," the statement said.

The British daily The Guardian, according to local media reports reported recently that Mullah Abdul Manan had represented Taliban in the talks attended by Afghan government national spy chief Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai and presidential advisor on National Security Mohammad Hanif Atmar.

In the statement, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Majahid categorically stated that, "The stance of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (name of ousted Taliban regime) with regard to peace talks is clear" and has not changed.

Taliban "militants" who had halted peace talks with Afghan government in July 2015, have preconditioned any talks with Afghan government on the complete pullout of foreign forces from the war-torn country.
 [CHINANEWZ.CN]
19/10/16

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