Taliban leader 'shows concern' over peace talks with US

Taliban leader Mullah Haibatullah on Thursday raised "doubts and concerns" about peace talks with the US to put an end to nearly two decades of war in Afghanistan amid an increase in attacks.

"The increasing blind and brutal bombings by America during the negotiation process, attacks on civilian areas and the contradictory statements by military and political officials has generated a cloud of uncertainty about this process and raised doubts about your intentions," Haibatullah said in a message ahead of the Eid al-Adha holiday.

"Bilateral trust is the foundation of a successful negotiations process therefore it is imperative that such negative actions are ceased," he was quoted as saying by Efe news.

Taliban and the US representatives are currently participating in the eighth round of peace talks to negotiate the withdrawal of international troops.

The Taliban leader said that these talks are being handled with "utmost sincerity", Efe news reported.

He expressed his desire for measures towards a resolution that could put an end to the war.

"The failure of numerous military strategies over the past 18 years are enough to focus on finding a peaceful pathway forward," Haibatullah said.

The UN denounced the rise in the number of attacks by the Taliban, international and Afghan troops as the peace talks are underway and said that such attacks could be used as leverage in the discussions.

On Wednesday, 14 people were killed and 145 others injured in an attack carried out by the militant group in the Afghan capital. IANS