Kabul, Mar;1: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday offered to recognise the Taliban which he has previously referred to as “terrorists” as a legitimate political party as part of a process that could lead to talks to end over 16 years of war in the country.
“We are making this offer without preconditions in order to lead to a peace agreement,” Ghani said at an international conference attended by officials from about 25 countries, including India, and organisations such as the UN and NATO.
He said the Taliban were expected to give input to the peace-making process.
The Kabul Process meeting is ailed at arriving at a plan for peace in Afghanistan.
The Afghan government released a detailed document titled “Offering Peace: Framing the Kabul Conference” outlining the offer to the Taliban.
Ghani proposed a ceasefire and release of prisoners and also elections and a constitutional review as part of the options to involve the Taliban in the political process, and a constitutional review under a pact with the Taliban.
Parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held in 2018 and presidential elections in 2019.
Ghani also urged Pakistan to hold government-to-government talks. “We will be ready to starts talks with Pakistan and forget the past and start a new chapter,” he said.
