Kabul cautious over Jeddah conference on peace

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - The Afghan government on Sunday said it would only attend the proposed peace conference in Saudi Arabia if there is a guarantee for a face-to-face talks with the Taliban.

Syed Ehsani Tahiri, spokesman for the High Peace Council, a government body tasked with reaching peace with the Taliban rebels, told a news conference the Kabul government has not received final date for the proposed moot on peace in Jeddah.

“We do not want the experience of Abu Dhabi to repeat,” he said, referring to a similar moot hosted by the UAE last year where the Taliban met representatives from the U.S, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, but declined to meet the visiting delegation from Afghanistan.

“We have advised the government not to attend the Jeddah meeting unless there is a guarantee for face-to-face talks with the Taliban,” Tahiri said.

Later this week, a delegation from the High Peace Council is set to visit Pakistan to discuss matters related to peace.

The Taliban, however, are dubbing the proposed Jeddah conference as the continuation of Abu Dhabi talks. In a statement issued by the group’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahed, the rebels have vowed not to meet the Afghan government delegation.