Afghan president: Taliban trying to show strength

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said on Friday the Taliban staged the deadly assault on Ghazni city last week in a bid to enter peace talks with a position of strength.

“What was this bloodshed for, this was to enter with a position of strength,” he said, during a rare visit to the city.

In four-day long clashes starting last Friday 500 Taliban fighters, 145 security personnel 60 civilians were killed, according to officials and local media reports.

Afghan government’s Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah confirmed last month, in the first official reaction, that a meeting had taken place between the U.S. and the Taliban to initiate the peace process.

As per the local Tolo News, Alice Wells, the U.S. principal deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, met with Taliban representatives in July to discuss ways to lay the groundwork for peace talks.

Located some 150 kilometers (93.20 miles) from Kabul, Ghazni is situated on the main highway connecting the capital with the country’s southern and western provinces.

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said on Friday the Taliban staged the deadly assault on Ghazni city last week in a bid to enter peace talks with a position of strength.

“What was this bloodshed for, this was to enter with a position of strength,” he said, during a rare visit to the city.

In four-day long clashes starting last Friday 500 Taliban fighters, 145 security personnel 60 civilians were killed, according to officials and local media reports.

Located some 150 kilometers (93.20 miles) from Kabul, Ghazni is situated on the main highway connecting the capital with the country’s southern and western provinces.