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Afghan Taliban Urges Pompeo to Refrain from 'Blame-shifting'

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN - The Taliban rejected charges Tuesday by the
   United States that the insurgent group lacks "will or capacity or both"
   to take steps needed to advance turbulent negotiations between the two
   foes aimed at ending the war in Afghanistan.

   The rebuttal came a day after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
   demanded "demonstrable evidence" from the Taliban it would lower the
   level of Afghan violence before reaching a peace deal.

   "We got close once before to having an agreement: a piece of paper that
   we mutually executed and the Taliban were unable to demonstrate either
   their will or capacity or both to deliver on a reduction in violence,"
   Pompeo told reporters on Monday during his visit to Uzbekistan, which
   borders Afghanistan.

   But Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Tuesday criticized Pompeo's
   remarks and in turn accused Washington of harming the Afghan peace
   process.

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