The Afghan High Peace Council (HPC) on Tuesday rejected claims that discussions around the withdrawal of foreign troops were held between the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban representatives in Qatar.

Mohammad Akram Khpalwak, an advisor to the president and head secretary of the High Peace Council said on Tuesday at a conference for academics, analysts and media representatives on the peace process in Kabul that Afghans will not accept the withdrawal of troops until the war ends and there is security and stability in the country.

President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday said the National Unity Government is not at odds with the media and that government and the media should work together and be committed to implementing the law.

Ghani made the remarks at the re-launch of the Journalists Support Fund at the Presidential Palace – a fund that will help members of the media including families of those killed.