UNSG Personal Envoy for Afghanistan Calls for Accelerated Peace Process

KABUL(Pajhwok) Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Haneef Atmar met the United Nations Secretary-General Personal Envoy on Afghanistan and Regional Issues Jean Arnault, this morning.

Minister Atmar congratulated Mr. Arnault on his new tenure as the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Afghanistan and Regional Issues and commended the UN co-operation and its effective role in support of the Afghan Peace Process. The MFA said in a statement.

Minister Atmar further elaborated on the Afghan government’s agenda for political and security affairs, and the peace talks, stressing the need for immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, and the importance of strengthening regional consensus to support the process.

Pleased with his new mission in Afghanistan and the region, Arnault highlighted the United Nations role in the Afghan Peace Process and added that intensified attacks and increased violence in Afghanistan were unacceptable for the UN and all those supporting peace in Afghanistan.

Emphasizing the importance of accelerated peace talks, Arnault called for an immediate ceasefire. He noted that continued violence in Afghanistan, delay in resumption of meaningful peace talks, and the Taliban’s disparity to an immediate ceasefire could compromise the success of the Peace Process.

Referring to UN Security Council Resolution 2513 and the Taliban’s non-compliance with their commitments to sever ties with regional and international terrorist groups, Arnault expressed concern about the situation, calling it a spoiler to achieving lasting peace in Afghanistan.

The two sides stressed the importance of strengthening regional consensus and unifying the perspectives of regional countries and organizations to achieve a political settlement, peace, security, and stability in Afghanistan.

They also assessed continued cooperation in the fight against terrorism and preserving of Afghanistan’s gains achieved in the last two decades.

JHK

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