US underlines inclusive Afghan peace negotiations

BRUSSELS (Pajhwok): The US hopes regional actors will be positive about helping Afghanistan go into a peace accord that will stabilise the war-torn country.

The US permanent representative to NATO stressed the need for efforts to get all of Afghan factions to agree on a common goal -- a strong and independent Afghanistan.

Kay Bailey Hutchison told reporters in Brussels on Tuesday that neighbours should help Afghanistan check the growth of terrorist networks.

Asked about a recent meeting in Moscow, the ambassador said: “I think you have to get into the peace talks and the peace discussions before you talk about an end result.

“The group that met in Moscow could be a force for good. I think Ambassador Khalilzad is not being judgmental because we don’t know yet if all of those parties can be brought to the table,” she said..

All key players in Afghanistan should be at the negotiating table and that was why the Taliban were being a part of trying to include all, she added.

Commenting on the upcoming elections, she hoped all political factions would participate in the process in some representative way.

“None of that has been decided, but most certainly if you have a faction left out, that’s not going to provide a lasting peace that would assure that Afghanistan does have the strength to withstand terrorist operations or maligned influence.”

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