Taliban call for new Afghan constitution
Afghanistan's Taliban has called for a new constitution as a pre-condition for it joining the nation's fledgling peace process, according to a declaration issued by representatives at a landmark meeting in France.
"Afghanistan's present constitution has no value for us because it was made under the shadows of B52 bombers of the invaders," said the declaration.
"Islamic Emirate, for the welfare of their courageous nation, need a constitution that is based on the principles of the holy religion of Islam, national interest, historical achievements, and social justice," it read. The meeting in France was organised by the Foundation for Strategic Research ( FRS), and was held behind closed doors at an undisclosed location near Paris.
The talks come against a background of accelerating efforts to draw the Taliban and other opponents of President Hamid Karzai into negotiations on how Afghanistan will be run after Western troops withdraw at the end of 2014.
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