(The Medialine): The Taliban has categorically rejected President Ashraf Ghani’s new peace proposal and said the Doha agreement the US and the Islamist movement signed in February 2020 is the “best plan” for peace and stability in Afghanistan. His idea comes on the heels of a new proposed US peace plan that would see Ghani step aside for an interim period during negotiations over a new constitution for the country. Dr. Muhammad Naeem, a Doha-based Taliban political spokesperson, told The Media Line in an exclusive interview that “after the tireless efforts of international and regional stakeholders and with the full support of the United Nations, the Doha peace agreement was drafted, and accepted by the international community as well.” “If the Doha peace agreement is implemented in its full provisions, the Afghan nation will soon enjoy long-lasting peace and stability,” he said, adding: “Unfortunately, if other parties do not keep their promises as per the accord, then they will be held responsible for any dire consequences.” Naeem added that, on March 31, a high-level Taliban delegation led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the head of the movement’s Doha office, met with Zalmay Khalilzad, the US special envoy for Afghanistan reconciliation. “Both parties discussed and emphasized their commitment to abide by the Doha accord,” Naeem said. Under the Doha agreement signed by the Trump administration and the Taliban, the US committed to removing its remaining troops as well as all US-led international forces, while the Taliban committed to cutting ties with al-Qaida and other terrorist groups. Ghani has drawn up his new proposal for peace with the Taliban ahead of an international conference aimed at jump-starting faltering talks between the warring sides. The Afghan president intends to present his three-stage plan at a yet-to-be-scheduled UN-backed conference in Turkey to be attended by the US, Pakistan and Russia, as well as other key regional countries. The plan’s phases, according to media reports, are: “making peace,” or holding talks with the Taliban; “building peace,” with the language hinting at a transitional government for Afghanistan; and “sustaining peace,” referring to the post-transitional government situation.