United Nations: A Taliban-linked Afghan insurgent group has presented a peace plan which envisages withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan by July, this, much ahead of the date set by President Barack Obama.
Mohammad Daoud Abedi, spokesperson of Hezb-i-Islami said the Taliban would also be willing to go along with the peace plan if foreign troops leave within their set deadline, New York Times reported.
Obama had set 2011 July deadline for withdrawal of foreign troops.
Hezb-i-Islami, which is currently talking to Afghan government is led by 60-year-old Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who is on UN sanctions list of Taliban and al Qaeda figures, has presented President Hamid Karzai with a formal 15-point peace plan, the daily said.
The representatives of the insurgent group also noted that dates of withdrawal were subject to negotiation.
"This is a start, this is not the word of the Koran that we cannot change it," a spokesperson, said Abedi, an Afghan-American businessman, said adding "They (Taliban) have said if US announces a withdrawal date, they are ready to support our plan."
However, the Taliban have publicly denied this.
"What we want is expulsion of foreign occupation forces unconditionally," the spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid told the paper adding "No condition is acceptable for us."
The insurgent group is not under the command of Taliban but has links with the Taliban leadership and al Qaeda. Karzai's plans of reconciliation with insurgents are believed to be supported by the US.
The Times reported that Pakistan wants a role in negotiations between the government and Afghanistan, and has been a supporter of Hekmatyar's bid for power in the region.
India remains nervous about engagement with Taliban and has expressed its reservations, about distinguishing between a good Taliban and bad Taliban, to Washington several times.
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