Gen. Scot Miller, the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan and Gen. Assadullah Khalid, Minister for Defense, have said the Taliban remain under all military pressure as long as they do not respond positively towards the peoples’ calls for peace in the country.
They said this following a two-day NATO Defense Minister meeting in Brussels. Gen. Miller said reduction in violence is critical in preventing civilian casualties and there is consensus at the top level to find a way to end the violence through Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. He said both sides, the pro-government forces and the Taliban, need to reduce violence.
Expecting all of Afghanistan’s neighbors to help promote stability in the region, the U.S. general said Daesh is dangerous for the region and the whole world. He stressed there is a need to disrupt Daesh’s recruitment, financing and media propaganda in Afghanistan. He added the group does have connections and communication with the Daesh militants in Syria. He described as fair the assumptions that some Taliban fighters might continue to fight and join Daesh after a potential peace deal.
Speaking on the occasion, Defense Minister Khalid said by spring 2020, the 'enemy' would either respond positively to the calls of peace or would have no more bastions left in the country. He added the presence of foreign fighters and their close ties with the Taliban remain serious threats. Pointing finger at Pakistan, he said the Taliban’s Queeta Shura remains operational, gets support from there against the people of Afghanistan as well as other groups such as the Haqqani Network and other terrorist groups. ”We hope Pakistan would acknowledge that these flames of war would not remain confined in Afghanistan, but would also affect Pakistan and the whole region”, he said.
Khalid said no peace agreement is possible without the ceasefire.
ENDS
