Increase in Taliban attacks make chance for peace in Afghanistan cloudy, US Central Command chief said on Tuesday.
“At a period when we should be striving for a reduction in violence, instead the Taliban has actually increased their attacks on the Afghan–on the Afghan military. And that is, frankly, not helpful and it makes cloudy the chances for a peaceful resolution and a reduction in violence and a ceasefire and a way ahead in Afghanistan,” General Kenneth McKenzie said in a briefing.
The general said that the US military was no longer accompanying Afghan army, but he was pleased with the way it is fighting.
Meanwhile, McKenzie met with President Ashraf Ghani during visit to Kabul on Tuesday, where they discussed peace process, security situation, supporting Afghan forces and strengthening security partnership, according to a statement from the president’s office.
McKenzie said that he was visiting Afghanistan to assure that US keeps supporting peace, development and security. He said that US stands with Afghanistan so that the country will not become a safe haven for terrorists again.
For his part, Ghani said that peace is the fundamental demand of the Afghan people and that the Taliban should renounce violence.
