Abdullah: Despite the escalation of Taliban violence, the Doha talks continue

Ariana News Agency: The head of the Supreme National Reconciliation Council says that despite the escalation of violence by the Taliban, the government’s direct peace talks with the group continue in Doha.

Speaking to Reuters, Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of the Supreme National Reconciliation Council, said that despite the escalation of violence by the Taliban, direct government peace talks with the group would continue in Doha.

Mr Abdullah added that the level of violence in the country had recently risen sharply and that the Taliban had recently focused on expanding its territory.

The chairman of the Supreme Council of National Reconciliation points out that peace talks are the only option to end the war in the country and this option will not be stopped.

Mr Abdullah added that the Afghan government was ready to start serious peace talks to find a political solution to end the war in the country with the Taliban, but that the group had not yet addressed key peace issues.

The remarks come as Taliban attacks across the country have escalated within two months of withdrawal of foreign troops. The Taliban have seized up to 20 districts in the aftermath of the attacks. A number of these districts, however, have been liberated from the control of the group’s fighters with the beginning of a popular mobilization against the Taliban.