NATO urges peace negotiators to strive for ceasefire
NATO has urged all parties to the Afghan conflict to build on momentum by agreeing to immediately end violence and by negotiating toward a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire.
NATO has urged all parties to the Afghan conflict to build on momentum by agreeing to immediately end violence and by negotiating toward a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire.
Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of the High Council of National Reconciliation, has said serious discussions between government and Taliban negotiating delegations in Doha will begin on Wednesday.
Parallel to the development in intra-Afghan talks, violence remains high in Helmand and Uruzgan provinces, officials said on Thursday.
The Afghan government and the Taliban confirmed on Wednesday the procedure for intra-Afghan talks has been agreed upon.
According to new report, the US has closed at least 10 bases across Afghanistan since the signing of a deal with the Taliban in February.
Security analysts believe the Taliban aim to exert pressure on the US with such comments.
This followed reports about Qatar, Uzbekistan, Germany, Norway and Indonesia taking the role of mediators to break the deadlock hindering progress at the intra-Afghan talks.
The State Department said Khalilzad departed for Oslo on October 26 where he discussed international coordination and support of the Afghan peace process
Stoltenberg said NATO decided to go into Afghanistan together; it will make decisions about future adjustments together; and will leave together when the time is right.
Earlier, at the third general meeting of the two sides, it was stressed that the contact groups should convene meetings as soon as possible and find solutions to their differences.
Zalmay Khalilzad said in a series of tweets the two sides agreed to re-set actions by strictly adhering to implementation of all elements of the U.S.-Taliban Agreement.
Reports suggest the meetings resumed after the mediation of Zalmay Khalilzad, the US special representatives for Afghanistan reconciliation.