TALIBAN SAY READY FOR A POLITICAL SOLUTION IN AFGHANISTAN

ISLAMABAD: The leader of the Taliban said Sunday that his movement is committed to a political settlement to end decades of war in Afghanistan, even as the insurgents battle in dozens of districts across the country to gain territory.

The statement by Maulawi Hibatullah Akhunzada came as Taliban leaders were meeting with a high-level Afghan government delegation in the Gulf state of Qatar to jump-start stalled peace talks. Akhundzada said that “in spite of the military gains and advances, the Islamic Emirate strenuously favours a political settlement in the country, and every opportunity for the establishment of an Islamic system.” “We fully assure neighbouring, regional and world countries that Afghanistan will not permit anyone to pose a security threat to any other country using our soil,” he said.

Battles between the Taliban and government forces, however, continued, with most Afghans frightened that the final withdrawal of US troops will plunge their nation into deeper chaos.

NEW DELHI: Afghanistan on Sunday announced the recall of its ambassador and senior diplomats in Pakistan in the wake of the kidnapping and assault of the Afghan envoy’s daughter in Islamabad.

A statement issued by the Afghan foreign ministry on Sunday indicated that the Afghan diplomats would remain in Kabul until Pakistan took action to apprehend the people involved in the abduction of the ambassador’s daughter.

Afghan first vice-president Amrullah Saleh said the decision was taken by President Ashraf Ghani. The Afghan foreign ministry’s statement said a delegation will visit Pakistan “to assess and follow up on the case... Subsequent actions will follow based on the findings”.

Pakistan’s foreign office described Afghanistan’s decision as “unfortunate and regrettable” and said the abduction was being investigated at the “highest level” on the orders of PM Imran Khan. It added that foreign secretary Sohail Mahmood met the Afghan envoy on Sunday to brief him on the steps taken by Pakistan. “We hope that the government of Afghanistan would reconsider its decision,” the foreign office said.

On Saturday, Afghanistan had demanded full security for its diplomats in Pakistan after Selsela Alikhil, 26, the daughter of Afghan ambassador Najibullah Alikhil, was abducted, held for almost five hours and assaulted by unidentified men in Islamabad on Friday.