Afghan Taliban attacks elderly truce talks negotiator

Kabul, Jan 5 (ANI): An Afghan village elder, who had been negotiating on behalf of his village with the Government, has reportedly been attacked by the Taliban.

According to the BBC, Sayed Badar Agha was beaten after being kidnapped in the town of Sarwan Qala in Sangin district of Helmand province.

A group of 40 elders led by Agha were reportedly negotiating for an agreement with the Afghan Government. They had reportedly met Afghan and international officials, including the Helmand Governor in this regard.

Meanwhile NATO has said in a statement that a peace deal had been brokered with a group of 40 elders in Sangin.

According to Maj Gen Richard Mills, a spokesman for the alliance, seven Taliban commanders had put their names to the agreement.

The terms and conditions of the ceasefire includes that the Taliban would stop attacks and keep foreign fighters away, and local forces would patrol the area. In a goodwill gesture to secure the agreement, the Afghan government even freed a local Taliban commander.

However, the Taliban had then reportedly seized the elder who led the negotiations, and even refused to let him leave the village for medical treatment. (ANI)