KABUL (SW) – The NATO Senior Civilian Representative to Afghanistan, Ambassador Nicholas Kay, has said the Alliance will continue to do all it can to support the Afghan government and help Afghan political leaders to build an inclusive, just and enduring peace.
He said this addressing a ceremony to mark the Alliance’s 70th anniversary. He said Afghanistan has come a long way since 2001. He added the gains of the last 17 years are very significant and NATO will continue to advocate for a durable political settlement that is built on these.
“President Ghani changed the game last year when he offered unconditional talks to the Taliban. In 2019, the opportunity for peace is real. Now it is time to end the war at the negotiating table. We are encouraged by the progress that Amb Khalilzad has made to date”, he said.
He added the next step now needs to be an intra-Afghan dialogue where Afghans agree their terms for peace and chart a peaceful future for their country. “This needs to include all stakeholders, women and men, Afghans across generations, and across ethnicities. And the government must be a central part of it.”
ENDS
