The US and the Afghan Taliban have made "significant progress" in talks aimed at ending the 17-year-old conflict in Afghanistan, the US envoy has said. In a series of tweets, Zalmay Khalilzad did not give details but said the unprecedented six days of talks in Qatar were "more productive than they have been in the past". He said he was on his way to Kabul to consult Afghan government officials. Earlier, Taliban sources said the two sides had finalised a draft agreement. The deal calls for a withdrawal of foreign forces in return for assurances that al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) group will not be allowed to use Afghanistan as a base, the sources said. Mr Khalilzad said talks with the Taliban would continue and that nothing had been finalised. Skip Twitter post by @US4AfghanPeace Report End of Twitter post by @US4AfghanPeace The Taliban has so far refused to hold direct talks with Afghan officials, whom they dismiss as "puppets". They
IGP AND SARAKI HAD A CRUCIAL METTING
The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday afternoon held a crucial meeting with top officials of the Buhari administration.
Those at the meeting included the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; the Director General of the State Security Service, Lawal Daura; and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
Although details of the meeting are yet to be made public, a reliable source in the vice president’s office told PREMIUM TIMES the primary agenda for the meeting is Senate President Bukola Saraki.
The meeting ended around 3:30 p.m.When journalists approached the police chief for details, he said, “Talk to the (vice president’s) ADC” who was seeing him off.All the others rushed to their vehicles without speaking to reporters.The police publicly summoned Mr Saraki on Sunday after he was allegedly named by five robbery suspects as their sponsor.Sources in the presidency had earlier told PREMIUM TIMES Mr Idris met with President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday to seek the president’s backing for possible arrest of Mr Saraki.Mr Saraki said Monday afternoon he was eager to answer the police summon but was yet to receive any. He has denied any wrongdoing.
The meeting ended around 3:30 p.m.When journalists approached the police chief for details, he said, “Talk to the (vice president’s) ADC” who was seeing him off.All the others rushed to their vehicles without speaking to reporters.The police publicly summoned Mr Saraki on Sunday after he was allegedly named by five robbery suspects as their sponsor.Sources in the presidency had earlier told PREMIUM TIMES Mr Idris met with President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday to seek the president’s backing for possible arrest of Mr Saraki.Mr Saraki said Monday afternoon he was eager to answer the police summon but was yet to receive any. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Comments
Post a Comment