Abdul Rashid Dostum, leader of the National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan, has warned that Afghanistan could face a war that would be difficult to contain if the Taliban refuse to engage in political talks.
Dostum said a five-member delegation had also been appointed to pursue negotiations, although he did not provide further details about its members.
He also called on the Taliban to halt military operations and the detention of people in Badakhshan and Panjshir provinces.
Dostum warned that continued military pressure and arrests could further complicate the situation and create the conditions for wider conflict.
His remarks come as a number of Afghan political figures and opponents of the Taliban have in recent months called for a political process to address the country’s crisis. The Taliban have not formally responded to these calls.
