Speaking at the 19th death anniversary of Ahmad Shah Massoud, today, Tuesday, September 08, Abdullah Abdullah, head of the High Council for National Reconciliation, said the intra-Afghan negotiations was imminent to take place between the government-led negotiating team and Taliban negotiators. “We have no animosity at home with each other, therefore, we want an end to chapter of hostility with the Taliban.”
Known as Afghanistan’s national hero, Ahmad Shah Massoud was assassinated on September, 09, 2001, in Khawaja Bahawodin area of the northern Takhar province. Massoud was a staunch anti-Taliban commander. He was a key member of the Northern Alliance, a military and political ally which fought against the Taliban in late 1990s and early 2000s.
“God willing, two sides will sit outside of the country and start direct talks,” Abdullah said. He, however, avoided mentioning a date for the start of the talks.
On the other hand, Taliban’s Qatar office has said the talks will start after all Taliban prisoners held by the Afghan government are set free.
Meanwhile, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, today wrote on Twitter that the Taliban fighters have launched attack on Abshar district of Panjshir province, the home province of Ahmad Shah Massoud. The militants have taken ten local policemen as hostages, Mujahid claims.
Recently, Taliban’s Qatar office appointed a 21-member negotiation team to sit with the Afghan side. The Taliban-led negotiating team will be led by Mawlawi Abdul Hakim, former chief justice of the Taliban regime.
