...former chancellor of Kabul University, now president of Afghanistan. Before returning to Afghanistan in 2002 he was a scholar of political science and anthropology. He worked at the World Bank working on international development assistance. As Finance Minister of Afghanistan between July 2002 and December 2004, he led Afghanistan's attempted economic recovery until the Karzais stole all the money. ..has offered to recognise the Taliban
...Arabic for
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as a legitimate political group, as part of a proposed process he said could lead to talks aimed at ending more than 16 years of war.
Ghani's offer on Wednesday, made at the start of an international conference aimed at creating a platform for peace talks, adds to a series of signals from both the Western-backed government and the Taliban suggesting a greater willingness to consider dialogue.
Ghani proposed a ceasefire and prisoner release as part of a range of options, including new elections involving the gang, and a constitutional review as part of a pact with the Taliban.
"We are making this offer without preconditions in order to lead to a peace agreement," Ghani said in opening remarks at the conference, attended by officials from about 25 countries involved in the so-called Kabul Process.