Kabul, Aug 9 (IANS) The Taliban Thursday denied reports that it has met representatives of the Afghan government in an attempt to end the unending conflict in the country.
According to news reports, the outfit met officials from the Kabul-backed High Peace Council in Dubai to reach a national reconciliation, reports Xinhua.
The Council has been authorized to contact the Taliban and convince it to give up fighting and contribute to the rebuilding of the war-torn nation.
“We utterly reject the report … on holding talks between representatives of the Islamic Emirate (name of ousted Taliban regime) and members of the so-called Peace Council,” a statement on the Taliban web site said.
No talks have been held, said the statement attributed to Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.
According to the reports, a delegation of the High Peace Council led by Masoom Stanekzai met the Taliban in Dubai recently to convince the outfit to negotiate openly with the Afghan government.
Mujahid’s remarks came in the wake of President Hamid Karzai’s fresh call on the Taliban militants to lay down arms and contribute to the rebuilding process of Afghanistan.
