The Afghan Taliban said on Thursday they were ready to initiate meaningful negotiations for ending the long-standing war in Afghanistan if their “legitimate demands” were met.
The surprising reaction from the hardliners as US President Barrack Obama extended the stay of thousands of NATO troops in Afghanistan after 2016.
“The Islamic Emirate believes a military solution is not a way out of the Afghan issue. All problems can be resolved through dialogue after the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghan soil,” said a Taliban statement on Thursday.
“We are ready to initiate meaningful negotiations with all concerned sides.”
The group; however, renewed their conditions, which include an end to the “US-led occupation” of Afghanistan.
The Taliban leadership also condemned media reports that the US and its NATO allies had planned to extend their combat mission in Afghanistan beyond 2016.
The group last month took over the northern city of Kunduz for a brief period until it was reclaimed following US air strikes.
“The continuation of oppression, occupation and invasion is not in the interest of anyone,” the Taliban leadership council said.