Afghan Taliban deny plans for Saudi peace talks

KABUL: The Afghan Taliban said on Wednesday that they had no plans to hold preliminary peace talks with the Afghanistan government in Saudi Arabia.

"We see Saudi Arabia with respect, because it is the centre of Islam. However, as it was reported in the media that the representatives of the Islamic Emirate will meet with the Afghan government delegation, that is not true," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement.

Sources in the Saudi government told Reuters this week that the Kingdom was reluctant to host Taliban-Afghan government peace talks, reportedly planned for this year, unless the Taliban renounced ties to al Qaeda.