The conference is “not an invitation to some wedding or other party at a hotel in Kabul,” the Taliban said this week. “However, the Kabul administration officials launched efforts to introduce this conference as a negotiation meeting between the Kabul administration and the Islamic Emirate, a position in conflict with the policy of the conference,” he said in the statement. Mujahid said Ashraf Ghani and Umar Daudzai repeatedly held press conferences to the same effect in an attempt to sabotage peace efforts. Khalilzad hails Pakistan’s efforts for Afghan peace processUS Special Representative to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad said he was “disappointed” the summit had been postponed. After US-Taliban talks in February, Khalilzad announced a “draft framework” for a peace deal, though he warned major hurdles remain.

Source: The Express Tribune April 19, 2019 06:00 UTC