‘ Elements in Taliban open to peace talks’

■ US defence secy Mattis arrived in war- torn Kabul unannounced

Kabul, March 13: Elements of the Taliban are open to talks with the Afghan government, US defence secretary Jim Mattis said on Tuesday as he arrived in Kabul on an unannounced visit.

Mr Mattis flew into the war- torn city two weeks after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani unveiled a plan to open peace talks with the Taliban, Afghanistan’s biggest militant group.

The insurgents have so far given no formal response to Kabul’s offer for negotiations, but Mattis said some Taliban leaders have expressed an interest in the discussions.

“It may not be that the whole Taliban comes over in one fell swoop, that would be a bridge too far, but there are elements of the Taliban clearly interested in talking to the Afghan government,” he told reporters aboard a military jet.

Mr Ghani’s peace plan includes eventually recognising the Taliban as a political party.

The group has said it is prepared to negotiate, but only with the United States and not with the Kabul government.

The Taliban last week described the Afghan government as “illegitimate” and its peace process efforts as “deceptive”, in a statement calling for a boycott of an

Right now we want the Afghans to lead and to provide the substance of the reconciliation effort — Jim Mattis, US Defence Secy

Islamic scholars’ conference in Jakarta.

“Right now we want the Afghans to lead and to provide the substance of the reconciliation effort,” Mr Mattis said.

Thanks to the political process, Mr Mattis said America is now looking towards victory in Afghanistan after more than 16 years of conflict.

“What does that victory look like? It’s a country whose own people and their own security forces handle law enforcement and any threats... Certainly with international support for some years to come,” he said.

The US has renewed its focus on Afghanistan after years of drawdowns under former president Barack Obama and talk by top US generals of “not winning” and of a “stalemate” in the seemingly intractable conflict. “It’s all working to achieve a political reconciliation, not a military victory,” Mr Mattis said. “The victory will be a political reconciliation.” As part of the socalled South Asia Strategy, President Donald Trump last year ordered the increased bombing of Taliban targets — including drugmaking labs and training camps. More than 3,000 additional US forces have also arrived in Afghanistan to boost the training and advising of local troops.