Taliban say any talks should lead to troop withdrawal
KANDAHAR, Sept 17: The Taliban said on Monday it would only hold talks with the government if they resulted in the withdrawal of the tens of thousands of US-led Nato troops.
The movement’s spokesman, Yousuf Ahmadi, had said a week ago that the Taliban were ready to respond positively to President Hamid Karzai’s renewed offer of negotiations.
But Ahmadi appeared to be stepping back from that stance on Monday by adding the apparently new condition involving the withdrawal of foreign soldiers from the insurgency-hit country.—AFP
