ISE-SHIMA, Japon, (APP/AFP): The Taliban is unlikely
to come to the table for peace talks with the government of Afghanistan “anytime soon”, despite the organisation’s new leadership, US President Barack Obama said Thursday.
Obama told reporters in Ise-Shima, where he is meeting with
other leaders of the Group of Seven, that he expected the extremist
group to continue their killing in Afghanistan.
“We anticipate the Taliban will continue an agenda of
violence,” he said.
Obama acknowledged that he was never going to find a
willing negotiating partner at the helm of the extremist group.
“I was not expecting a liberal democrat to be appointed,”
he told reporters.
“My hope, although not my expectation, is that there comes
a point where the Taliban realise what they need to be doing” and
start getting into a dialogue with the government.
“I am doubtful that it will be happening anytime soon.”