US should abandon 'dual-faced' Afghan policies: Taliban

Islamabad, Oct 29: Close on the heels of the US advocating dialogue with the Afghan-Taliban, the terror outfit has said that peace talks cannot be held unless Washington abandons its "dual-faced policies" on Afghanistan.

"On the one hand, it (the US) talks about pursuing peace dialogue but on the other it's seeking to establish permanent military bases in Afghanistan," Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told 'The Express Tribune' on telephone from Afghanistan.

"The US is seeking Pakistan's help to negotiate with us, but at the same time, it's pressuring Islamabad to fight (the Haqqani network in North Waziristan)... Unless the US shows its commitment to peace talks, dialogue is not possible," he said, asking Washington to abandon its "dual-faced policies" on Afghanistan.

On Thursday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the US House Committee on Foreign Relations that any Afghan-led peace process would have to include the Quetta Shura, the Afghan Taliban leadership based in the southwestern Pakistani city, and its leader Mullah Omar.

During her recent trip to Pakistan, she urged Islamabad to crack down on all Taliban factions, including the Haqqani network, and also facilitate peace talks. "There is no solution in the region without Pakistan and no stable future without a partnership," Clinton told the House Committee.

PTI