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Afghan Government Links Peace Talks With Taliban to One-Month Cease-Fire

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD - A senior official in Afghanistan announced Tuesday that
   under a "new" peace plan, the government will not seek any more
   unconditional negotiations with the Taliban and will require that a
   cease-fire last at least one month before initiating any peace process
   with the insurgent group.

   Hamdullah Mohib, the adviser to President Ashraf Ghani on national
   security, revealed details of the plan at a news conference as
   officials confirmed to VOA a fresh Taliban attack in northern Jowzjan
   province killed at least 20 Afghan forces.

   Mohib said the government has made the cease-fire a precondition
   because insurgents do not maintain unity of their command and do not
   control the war. Afghans have long alleged Pakistan covertly helps the
   Taliban, charges the neighboring country rejects.

   Some key Taliban commanders have even joined Daesh, the adviser claimed
   while referring to the Islamic State terrorist group by an Arabic
   acronym.

   "Before we enter into peace talks with them, Taliban leaders must prove
   how much control they have over their commanders and fighters," Mohib
   said.

   The Taliban did not offer any reaction immediately to Mohib's
   assertions and allegations. The insurgent group rarely responds to
   Afghan official statements, dismissing the government in Kabul as an
   American puppet.

   Critics are skeptical, however, about Afghan conclusions that the
   Taliban are divided or lack unity in their ranks. Analysts point to
   last year's cease-fire the Taliban had observed during the three-day
   Muslim festival of Eid when insurgents did not carry out a single
   attack across Afghanistan and resumed fighting as soon as the
   festivities ended.

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