KABUL (SW) – Zalmay Khkalilzad has said the US’ approach towards the peace process will remain conditions based and will press for completion of prisoner release, reduction of violence and progress in intra-Afghan negotiations.
In a series of tweets, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation said the US and Taliban have reached Day 135, a ‘key milestone’ in implementation of the U.S.-Taliban Agreement. “The U.S. has worked hard to carry out the 1st phase of its commitments under the Agreement, including to reduce forces & depart five bases. NATO troops have come down in proportional numbers”, he said while condemning Monday’s attack in Samangan province.
“The use of major explosives to detonate a vehicle in a provincial capital is unacceptable and will strengthen those who oppose peace and plays into the hands of spoilers. All sides must reduce violence”, he tweeted.
Khalilzad said there has been major progress, albeit slow, on prisoner releases. “The Taliban & the Islamic Republic negotiating teams have made progress on logistics for intra-Afghan talks. No American has lost his/her life in Afghanistan to Taliban violence. Regional relations have improved”, he said, adding more progress is needed on counter terrorism.
“And violence has been high, especially in recent days & weeks. Afghans continue to die in large numbers for no reason. The Taliban's attack today in a provincial capital contradicts their commitment to reduce violence until a permanent ceasefire is reached in intra-Afghan talks”, the US envoy said.
Samangan's deputy governor, Sifatullah Samangani, said the on Monday the Taliban insurgents' attack on the NDS office here ended after six hours of fighting with security forces, with two attackers killed.
According to him, 12 employees of the NDS, including two women, were killed and 63 others, most of them civilians, were injured in the attack.
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