The government of Afghanistan on Thursday expressed concern that the peace talks between the US and the Taliban are “increasing the legitimacy of the Taliban” while “decreasing the legitimacy of the Afghan government” and complained that the US is not transparent enough about what its negotiators have been discussing with the Taliban. Afghanistan also worries that the US will agree to “a deal that doesn’t end in peace.”
Earlier this week, US and Taliban negotiators wrapped up 16 days of talks without a deal. Both sides have broadly agreed that such an agreement would result in a withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan under condition that the country will not be used by militant groups to launch attacks against the US and allied countries. The Taliban has so far refused to hold direct talks with Afghanistan’s government. Fighting between the Taliban and Afghanistan’s army continued during the talks, and the Taliban actually launched new attacks on military targets in the country as a way of increasing its leverage in the negotiations.
Read more: Afghan Official Warns of U.S. Deal With Taliban ‘That Doesn’t End in Peace’
