GHAZNI CITY (PAN): The High Peace Council secretary for southern Ghazni province on Monday said the Taliban, not interested in peace in the country, wanted to harm Pashtun tribes.
They invited the fighters to join peace, they threatened the people with death, Khalil Hotak told Pajhwok Afghan News.
He alleged the Afghan Taliban, controlled by the Pakistan, were not free to make peace with the government. “Te existence of High Peace Council is aimless, because the insurgents don’t want peace.”
Hotak suggested the money spent on funding salaries of council members should be diverted to strengthening security personnel and establishment of tribal councils.
He claimed the insurgents’ only objective was to expel Pashtuns from the country.
Taliban-linked people were yet to join the peace process in the province, said a resident of Ghazni City, Sharafuddin Stanikzai. Only imposters posing as fighters were jumping on the reconciliation bandwagon, he continued.
But Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said 90 percent of the rebels were Pakhtuns. It was propaganda that the movement was under the influence of Pakistan, he concluded.