Engage in direct talks or be used as tool: Ghani

Kabul: Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani on Monday called on the Taliban to engage in direct talks with the government or be used a “tool” by other countries. His comments came as the President’s office, citing US special envoy on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, said that no agreement was reached with the Taliban on a ceasefire or the withdrawal of foreign troops from the war-ravaged country.

In his address to the nation, Ghani said his government was committed to end the ongoing war and that “no country wants the presence of foreign troops on its soil indefinitely, but currently, Afghanistan needs these forces”, TOLO News reported. The President said the terror group had two choices at the moment — to either stand with the people of Afghanistan or be used as a tool by other countries. (IANS)

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