US, Taliban keep door open for fresh talks after Prez Trump cancels secret meet

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International News

Sep 09, 2019

9:23AM

US, Taliban keep door open for fresh talks after Prez Trump cancels secret meet

File Pic: PTI

United States and Afghanistan's Taliban both have left the door open to fresh talks after President Donald Trump abruptly canceled a secret meeting with Taliban leaders and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

In a series of television interviews, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo did not rule out a return to talks but said the United States needed a significant commitment from the Taliban. He told the NBC that he is not pessimistic. In an interview with the ABC, he said he hopes that Taliban will change their behaviour and recommit to the things that US has been talking to them about for months. He asked Taliban to drop their long-running refusal to negotiate with Ghani's internationally recognized government.

Mr Pompeo warned that the United States was not going to reduce the pressure on the Taliban, saying US forces had killed more than 1,000 insurgents in the past 10 days alone.

On the other hand, Taliban's Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said they still believe that the American side will come back to talks to the complete end of the occupation. Meanwhile, the Presidential election is scheduled in Afghanistan on 28th of September. President Ghani has insisted the poll must be held on time.