US, EU stress resumption of Afghan peace talks

KABUL (Pajhwok): American and European special envoys have called for an immediate resumption of open-ended peace negotiations on the future of Afghanistan.

US, EU, NATO and other European countries’ representatives issued the call in a joint communiqué on Friday after their meeting in Berlin, the capital of Germany.

While stressing an immediate resumption of the intra-Afghan peace parleys, they denounced Taliban’s widespread attacks amid the withdrawal of foreign forces from the country.

They said the discussions should yield “compromise positions on power-sharing that can lead to an inclusive and legitimate government.”

In a statement from the US State Department, the participants said the troop withdrawal operations must not serve as an excuse for the Taliban to suspend the peace process.

The statement condemned the spike violence in Afghanistan, holding the insurgent movement largely responsible for the new wave of attacks.

The participants urged the Taliban to stop their undeclared spring offensive. “Any Taliban attacks on our troops during this period will be met with a forceful response.”

PAN Monitor/mud