Taliban denies secret channels of talks with UN

Peshawar, Mar.21 (ANI): The Afghan Taliban has rejected former UN Envoy to Afghanistan, Kai Eide's claims that talks with its leaders were on before the arrest of Mullah Ghani Barader, the Taliban's second in-command.

A self-proclaimed spokesman of the Afghan Taliban Muhammad Yousaf Ahmadi told the Afghan Islamic Press that none of the Taliban leaders had ever met Eide or any of other US official.

"No Taliban official or representative has met or held talks with Kai Eide. We do not know what targets Kai Eide wants to achieve by telling such lies. However, we firmly say that the Taliban have not held negotiations with Kai Eide or any other UN official," The News quoted Ahmadi, as saying.

Asked whether the Taliban held talks with Saudi Arabia or any other country, the Taliban spokesman said : "No, there is no change in our stance."

It is pertinent to mention here that earlier this week, Eide had claimed that Barader's arrest has blocked the secret channels of talks with the Taliban.

However, Pakistan has rejected Eide's claims, saying the arrest had no links with the talks. (ANI)