Taliban refuse to attend peace meeting in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan

The Taliban on Wednesday announced they will not attend an Afghan government-led peace conference in Kabul.

The Afghan government is gearing up to hold a four-day consultative session later this month gathering elders from across the war-ravaged nation to discuss the outline of a proposed peace deal with the Taliban.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid dubbed the conference as "fake and exhibitory" in a statement published on the group's propaganda website.

Last week, Mohammad Umer Daudzai, secretary of Afghanistan's High Peace Council tasked with striking a peace deal with the insurgents, told Anadolu Agency that the Kabul government would like the Taliban to share views for sustainable peace in the country at the Loya Jirga (Grand Session).

The Taliban, Afghan and the U.S. officials are set to meet in Doha, Qatar as part of the peace process aimed at ending the 17-year war in Afghanistan.

The Taliban have so far not shown inclination toward having direct peace talks with the Afghan government.