The Afghan Taliban Saturday said an agreement with their opponents to hold peace talks under the auspices of the United Nations did not represent "something new".
Deputy Information Minister Abdurrahman Ahmad Hotak said the religious militia regime had always been ready for talks with its northern-based opponents led by military commander Ahmad Shah Masood.
"This is not something new. Our movement, since its very inception has always relied on understanding and dialogue," Hotak told reporters.
"We have always wanted serious talks and sincere talks."
The United Nations officials Friday said the Taliban and the opposition had agreed to UN-sponsored peace talks.
"The two sides have sent me separate letters agreeing in writing to a process of dialogue under the auspices of the United Nations," said Francesc Vendrell, Special Representative of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan for Afghanistan.
The agreements were contained in identical letters that arrived Thursday, Vendrell said.
The Taliban official brushed aside suggestions that the ruling militia, now controlling most of the country, agreed to peace talks because of the possibility of further UN sanctions.
The agreement comes at a time when the factions in the Afghan civil war normally minimize their military operations at the advent of the harsh Afghan winter.
The two sides have held talks in the past also without achieving any breakthrough, including an early summer round this year under the Organization of the Islamic Conference – KABUL (AFP)
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