Ghani ready for talks with Taliban

Ghani ready for talks with Taliban

Context:

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has unveiled a plan to open peace talks with the Taliban

What has happened?

• Afghan president has disclosed the framework at the Kabul Process, a regional conference focussed on bringing peace to the country
• He has called for a truce, after which the Taliban could become a political party and contest elections.
• The apparent openness for some form of negotiations has come as civilian casualties have soared in recent months, with the Taliban increasingly targeting towns and cities in response to a new and more aggressive U.S. military policy

What has been Taliban’s response?

• The Taliban said it was prepared to enter direct talks with the U.S. to find a “peaceful solution”.
• However, the statement made no mention of negotiating with the Afghan government.