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Afghan President Names Council Members to Push Talks with Taliban

RFE/RL'S Radio Free Afghanistan

   Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has revealed the names of the appointed
   members and leaders of the country's High Council for National
   Reconciliation, a body tasked with leading peace negotiations with the
   Taliban.

   Political figures, including current and former officials, leaders of
   political parties, and renowned religious leaders are among the more
   than 40 council members approved by Ghani, according to a presidential
   decree issued late on August 29.

   The list includes former mujahedin leaders Abdul Rasul Sayyaf and
   Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, as well as civil-society activist Safia Sediqqi
   and eight other women.

   One of the appointed women was named the deputy of council head
   Abdullah Abdullah, the former chief executive officer of Afghanistan's
   unity government.

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