Kabul, Jan 1 (ANI): Afghan President Hamid Karzai has welcomed US Vice President Joe Biden's remarks that Taliban insurgents are not America's enemies.
Biden said in an interview with Newsweek magazine last week that the Islamist militants did not represent a threat to US interests unless they continued to shelter Al Qaeda.
His comments caused uproar in the US, which has been fighting a 10-year war against the Taliban-led militancy.
"We are very happy that America has announced that Taliban are not their enemy," the Daily Times quoted Karzai, as saying.
This will bring peace and stability to the people of Afghanistan, he added.
Karzai has agreed that if the US wants to set up a Taliban address in Qatar to enable peace talks he will not stand in the way, as long as Afghanistan is involved in the process.
But recent unconfirmed reports suggested the US could be open to a deal which includes the transfer of Taliban prisoners from Guantanamo Bay, the report said.
In the interview with Newsweek Biden emphasised the need for the Taliban to cut ties with Al Qaeda.
"We are in a position where if Afghanistan ceased and desisted from being a haven for people who do damage and have as a target the United States of America and their allies, that's good enough," he said.
According to the paper, as it pushes for a political settlement, the Afghan government has changed its tone towards the militants, referring to 'terrorist' rather than 'Taliban' attacks. (ANI)
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