Taliban says Karzai's peace council is impratical and doomed to fail

Kabul, Oct.1 (ANI): The Taliban have dubbed Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai's High Peace Council "failed and impractical" and denied that its senior leaders were in contact with Kabul.

The council, which has been approved by a peace jirga, or traditional gathering oftribal and community leaders, aims to lay the ground for a negotiated end to a war which will soon be heading into its tenth year.

According to The News, the Taliban has repeatedly dismissed olive branches proffered by Karzai, saying they will not consider talks until all foreign troops have left Afghan soil.

The Taliban has also rejected comments made by General David Petraeus, the top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan, acknowledging contacts between Kabul and very senior Taliban.

Petraeus had said it was premature to say whether they were willing to accept Karzai's terms for pursuing reconciliation.

In a statement, the Taliban said Petraeus's comments were incorrect, and they had had no contact with Karzai. (ANI)