The Taliban group has mocked the Afghan government over the list of 250 delegates for Qatar talks, saying ‘the creators of the list must realize that this is an orderly and prearranged conference in a far-away Gulf country and not an invitation to some wedding or other party at a hotel in Kabul.’

The group has also claimed that the government has fears regarding such gatherings and progress made in peace efforts.

“The Kabul administration has published a list of 250 participants for the said conference but the hosts of this conference have no plans of accepting so many people from Kabul and neither is such participation normal in such conferences,” Taliban said in a statement earlier today.

The statement further added that “Only a limited number of political and national figures from this list are selected for the finalized list and only they shall be participating.”

The government on Tuesday released the initial list of individuals who are due to participate in talks with the Taliban group in Qatar.

Presidential spokesperson Shah Hussain Murtazawi sid the individuals have been introduced by political parties, intendent political figures, and other institutions and departments.

Murtazawi further added that the names of the representatives of political parties, political figures, Jihadi leaders, families of victims, high peace council, Ulemas, parliament, civil society, women, youths, journalists, governmental officials, and tribal elders have been included in the list.