Gov’t urges Taliban to join peace talks

An Afghan spokesman has called on the new Taliban leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhunzada to join peace talks or face dire consequences, only hours after the armed group appointed him. The Taliban named Haibatullah Akhunzada on Wednesday after confirming the death of Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, the group’s former leader, in a US drone strike in Pakistan’s […]

An Afghan spokesman has called on the new Taliban leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhunzada to join peace talks or face dire consequences, only hours after the armed group appointed him.
The Taliban named Haibatullah Akhunzada on Wednesday after confirming the death of Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, the group’s former leader, in a US drone strike in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.
The US and   Afghan administrations   also confirmed his death.
“We invite Mula #Haibatullah to peace. Political settlement is the only option for #Taliban or new leadership will face the fate of #Mansoor,” Javid Faisal, spokesperson for Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, said on Twitter.