In comments in response to reports that NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan Cornelius Zimmermann has pointed to unofficial negotiations between the Taliban and the Kabul government, Taliban Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied any such talks between the two sides.
The spokesperson said a number of “opportunistic individuals” may have taken advantage of the Afghan government’s agitation to present themselves as Taliban members.
“American and NATO officials have resorted to such comments to divert the public attention from their failure in Afghanistan,” Mujahid said of reports of Taliban-Kabul negotiations.
The only way out of the impasse in Afghanistan is accepting the realities on the ground and the withdrawal of foreign forces, he underlined.
False propaganda may produce short-term results, but would complicate the situation in Afghanistan and reveal the defeat of foreign forces, the spokesman went on to say.
Last week, the Afghan president ordered the security forces to cease operations against the Taliban until June 20, coinciding with the end of the holy month of Ramadan.