THE Taliban rejected a power-sharing deal offered by the Afghan government today in return for an end to violence as Kandahar, the country’s second-largest city, fell to the Islamists.

President Ashraf Ghani made the offer during peace talks in Doha, which coincided with the militants also seizing control of the cities of Pul-e Alam, Lashkar Gah and Herat, about 90 miles from the Iranian border.

“Yes, the government has submitted a proposal to Qatar as mediator. The proposal allows the Taliban to share power in return for a halt in violence in the country,” a government source confirmed.