Devote energy to peace, White House tells Taliban

KABUL (Pajhwok): The White House, voicing its concern at escalating violence in Afghanistan, has urged the Taliban to focus on peace negotiations instead of their military offensive.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters in Washington on Friday recent Taliban actions would not help them win global legitimacy.

Psaki’s remarks came the day the Taliban militants killed Dawa Khan Menapal, head of the Government Media and Information Centre in Kabul.

Reuters quoted Psaki as saying: “Our view is that, if the Taliban claim to want international legitimacy, these actions are not going to get them the legitimacy they seek.”

She stressed: “They do not have to stay on this trajectory. They can choose to devote the same energy to the peace process as they are to their military campaign.”

The White House spokesperson said there were credible reports of retaliation against civilians in other Taliban-controlled areas.

The Biden administration was closely tracking and was concerned about retaliatory killings of Afghan civilians, she added.

PAN Monitor/mud

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