Rifts within the Afghan government have grown vast, even as the Taliban gain territory and wage increasingly ruthless tactics. “We don’t want to talk with the Taliban,” he said. Hakim Mujahid, a member of the High Peace Council, confirmed that Stanikzai still has regular contacts with the Taliban’s point man for peace talks, Mullah Abbas Stanikzai. Still, the latest spate of violence has limited options for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who is also fending off a mini-revolt within his own government, feuding with the vice president as well as a powerful northern governor. Blame for the shooting has been directed at both elements within the Taliban who opposed peace talks and Pakistan’s powerful spy agency, often seen as the force behind the Taliban.

Source: Egypt Independent February 13, 2018 06:00 UTC