DHAKA: The Taliban has refused to take part in peace talks until the government orders foreign troops out of the war-torn country and releases all of its fighters from prison.

The announcement on Saturday came as a blow to efforts to restart peace negotiations in the Pakistani capital Islamabad to end the nearly 15-year-long war, Al Jazeera publishes this report on Sunday.

‘We want to repeat our stance once again that until the occupation of foreign troops ends, until Taliban names are removed from international blacklists, and until our detainees are released, talks will yield no results,’ a Taliban statement said.

‘We unequivocally state that the esteemed leader of Islamic Emirate (Taliban) has not authorized anyone to participate in this meeting and neither has the Leadership Council of Islamic Emirate decided to partake in it.’

Following a meeting of the so-called Quadrilateral Coordination Group - comprising representatives of Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, and the US - in Kabul last month, officials had expected direct peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban this week.

Afghanistan has repeatedly called for all Taliban groups to sit at the negotiating table, though President Ashraf Ghani has said his government will not make peace with those who kill civilians.

BDST: 1606 HRS, MAR 06, 2016
RR