US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad says no discussions have taken place on an interim government with the Taliban.
Khalilzad presented details of talks with the Taliban in Doha, the capital of Qatar, to President Ashraf Ghani and other senior officials, according to a statement from the Presidential Palace.
Khalilzad denied media reports that the six-day meetings focused on the establishment on an interim government. He said no such discussions had happened, the statement said.
About the interim administration, Khalilzad said: “I have no authority to discuss such issues. My mandate is to facilitate an intra-Afghan dialogue.” He said he had only held talks on a ceasefire during the meetings with the Taliban, but there had been no progress in this regard either.
The diplomat added the Taliban demanded US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, but no agreement had been reached. Comprehensive negotiations would begin in coordination with the Afghan government once a decision was taken on the issue, he explained.
Asked whether the Taliban accepted or rejected intra-Afghan talks, Ambassador Khalilzad replied he would meet the rebel group’s representatives again to follow up on the remaining issues.
The statement added President Ghani thanked Khalilzad for sharing details with his government and commended US efforts for facilitating intra-Afghan parleys.
Earlier, the Taliban denied reaching an agreement on a ceasefire and direct talks with Afghan government during marathon negotiations with the US special representative.
