Taliban call fighters back from winter lull early as talks stall

Demand for 'inclusive Islamic system' and autonomy cloud outlook for peace

20210202 Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Taliban and Zalmay Khalilzad U.S.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, leader of the Taliban delegation, and Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. envoy for peace in Afghanistan, shake hands after signing an agreement at a ceremony between members of the Taliban and the U.S. in Doha, Qatar on Feb. 29, 2020. © Reuters

TAHIR KHAN, Contributing writer

February 3, 2021 16:14 JST

ISLAMABAD -- Amid growing distrust over the future of peace talks with the administration of new U.S. President Joe Biden, Taliban leaders have called commanders back from their winter break earlier than usual, a leader of the group told Nikkei Asia.