Afghans Wary of Taliban Peace Talks

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Kabul residents are wary of peace talks with the Taliban, even as Afghan officials express hope that negotiations could lead to lasting peace in their war-ravaged country.

Tuesday's reactions came a day after the U.S. envoy tasked with resolving the war, Zalmay Khalilzad, said there've been "agreements in principle" reached in talks with the Taliban.

Nawid, a 21-year-old student who lost his brother and who was himself wounded in a deadly Taliban suicide attack on the Afghan capital's Green Village neighborhood earlier this month, says he holds little hope for peace.

He says that after so many dead, "peace will be meaningless." Like many Afghans, Nawid goes by only one name.

A deputy government spokesman, Faridoon Khwazoon, said he hopes there will be direct negotiations between Kabul and the insurgents.

(KA)