KABUL (Sputnik) – The Taliban radical movement mistakenly believes that they can get concessions in talks with the Afghan government by intensifying attacks, First Deputy Minister of Defence Shah Mahmood Miakhel said.
The Taliban does not have a permanent force, so they have to bring people from surrounding areas to the place of attack and foreign terrorists join them sometimes, Miakhel said.
The official further noted that the Taliban cannot take control of Afghan provinces, as the government troops have the support of the people
Although the US-Taliban peace agreement, which was concluded in February, set the stage for the intra-Afghan talks, attacks in Afghan provinces continued. The Taliban have reportedly made some territorial gains recently. Last week, the movement managed to seize a large portion of Deh Ravod district in the central province of Oruzgan, a local source said.
Intra-Afghan Talks Go Slow Because of Mistrust
The talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban radical movement are moving slowly because of the lack of trust, Shah Mahmood Miakhel stated.
Miakhel added that peace talks were usually more complex than war, but the Afghan settlement process, however complex, was intensifying.
Afghan Army Wants Peace More Than Anything
The Afghan National Army wants peace more than anything because armed forces are at the forefront of any hostilities, Mahmood Miakhel said.
The more intense the war, the more it destroys Afghanistan, Miakhel continued.
He noted, however, that the Afghan Air Force is enough to cover all the needs of the government.
The composition of the armed forces should take their purposes into account, which, in case of Afghanistan, means a stronger emphasis on non-conventional war and, therefore, less need for advanced equipment, Miakhel said.
Kabul’s Goodwill Should Not Be Mistaken for Giving In to the US
Afghan government’s willingness to release prisoners and have face-to-face talks with the Taliban movement does not mean that it is simply following Washington’s instructions, First Deputy Minister of Defense Shah Mahmood Miakhel told Sputnik.
When asked about rumours that Afghanistan may have been following the US guidance on its political decisions, the deputy minister said it was an incorrect interpretation.
In September, the intra-Afghan talks, which include the government and the Taliban radical movement, began. The release of prisoners has been one of the preconditions for these negotiations.
Sourse: sputniknews.com
