Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah on Monday said that imposing new conditions to start intra-Afghan negotiations with the Taliban shows a lack of commitment to the process, and that there shouldn’t be any preconditions.

He referred to the Presidential Palace’s insisting on a ceasefire by the Taliban. The Taliban, according to the latest reports, has offered a short-term reduction in violence, but has been asked by the US to commit to a long-term reduction in violence. The US, by all accounts, is not asking for a complete ceasefire before intra-Afghan talks begin.

Presidential Palace pictures of President Ghani’s meetings show his running mate Amrullah Saleh sitting next to him, which adds fuel to speculation among critics of the Ghani administration that Saleh is performing government duties unofficially.

Saleh, who is running as Ghani’s first vice president, has also been referred to as a high-ranking official in Presidential Palace statements.