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Taliban invited to join peace process

Ghani Ahmadzai asks militants to 'enter Afghan dialogue'

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai issued a public invitation today to the Taliban to join him in a peace process backed by the international community.

Speaking at a conference on Afghan peace and reconstruction in Beijing, Mr Ghani Ahmadzai made no specific proposals, declaring: "Peace is our highest priority.

"We invite the political opposition, particularly the Taliban, to join and enter Afghan dialogue and ask all of our international partners to support an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.

"We must not and will not permit groups pursuing grand illusions to use our country as the battleground or launching-pad against the international system," he added.

His attitude toward the Taliban has been a departure from that of his predecessor Hamid Karzai, who habitually referred to them as his "brothers," castigating Washington for its military presence in Afghanistan even though he was installed by the invaders.

The Taliban have intensified suicide bombings, roadside bombings and rocket attacks in Kabul since President Ghani Ahmadzai was elected.

Premier Li Keqiang said that China has faith in Afghanistan's ability to solve its own problems, but its neighbours should help create a peaceful environment without interfering in its internal affairs.

"The international community should respect Afghanistan's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, not interfere in its internal affairs, and should support Afghanistan's efforts to create security and stability," he said. Beijing said earlier that it had received a pledge from Mr Ghani Ahmadzai to help combat the East Turkistan Islamic Movement that has masterminded terrorist attacks in China's Uighur-majority Xinjiang province and elsewhere.

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