Afghan president sacks foreign ministry official over comments on Pakistan, Taliban talks

• President Ghani’s spokesman, Sediq Sediqi, criticized the meeting saying it couldn’t help peace process.
• Sibghatullah Ahmadi appreciated the global efforts for resumption of Afghanistan’s peace process.

(Karachi) Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has fired foreign ministry's spokesman Sibghatullah Ahmadi, over his comments on Pakistan's talks with the Taliban, Afghan media reported on Sunday, quoting sources.

A 12-member Taliban delegation led by its deputy leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar met with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and other officials in Islamabad earlier this week. Both sides agreed on the need to resume peace process.

President Ghani’s spokesman, Sediq Sediqi, criticized the meeting saying it couldn’t help peace process.

https://twitter.com/Sibghat_Ah/status/1179718747013165056

“Hosting a group which continues to commit violence goes against all the principles of relations between countries,” Sediqi said.

Ahmadi, however, welcomed the meeting.

“We all witness the increasing regional and global efforts for resumption of Afghanistan's Peace Process,” Ahmadi said on Twitter.

“We welcome the efforts of all the countries in the region and the world aimed at peace in Afghanistan and particularly appreciate these countries' efforts in terms of facilitating direct talks between the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban. Discussions continue on the mechanism of initiating the peace talks.”

Later, Sediqi said that policies on peace are announced by Presidential Palace, adding Ahmadi’s comments on the meeting were personal.

According to 1TV, Mirwais Nab has been appointed by the Afghan president as acting spokesman for the country's foreign ministry and as its deputy for economic cooperation.

Ahmadi has also been referred for prosecution for the comments, 1TV quoted a source as saying.