Taliban demands release of its cadres, removal of names of leaders from UN blacklist

Kabul [Afghanistan], Oct. 20 (ANI): The Taliban delegation has reportedly demanded the release of its cadres and removal of the group's leaders from the United Nations blacklist during informal talks held in Qatar. The group also demanded that the Taliban group should be identified as a formal movement before they agree to participate in peace talks, reports the Khaama Press. The Afghan Taliban officials, based in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, said that the talks yielded little results, adding that the U.S. officials were part of the process, although they did not specify whether they were directly involved in the talks. Afghan and U.S. officials demanded that the Taliban declared a ceasefire, laid down arms and started formal peace talks, said the UAE-based official. "Like our previous meetings, it was a waste of time and resources, as we could not achieve anything from the meeting," said the UAE-based official. This comes as the Taliban group spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid rejected that the group's delegation participated in informal talks with the Afghan government delegation in Qatar, calling the report by the Guardian as baseless. Mujahid further added that the group remains firm on its conditions to participate in peace talks only if the government agrees to the exit of all foreign troops from the country and the establishment of a strict Islamic system. (ANI)