Kabul keenly following US-Taliban talks: Saikal

The administration of President Ashraf Ghani is keenly following the US-Taliban negotiations on ending the 17-year war, Afghanistan’s UN Ambassador says.
Participating in the UN Security Council debate on Monday, Mahmoud Saikal said: “We have lately strengthened regional and international consensus in support of peace efforts.”
The diplomat warned substantial progress toward peace could not be achieved unless the consistent pattern to manipulate, misuse opportunities and deception for strategic gains came to an end.
The guiding principle in moving forward dictated that fundamental factors, preventing peace efforts from gaining traction, must first be adequately addressed, he stressed.
“All along, we have underscored the importance of regional support for our peace efforts, with a specific role by Pakistan,” the ambassador said.
Advancing the peace process was a key element of the recently signed Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS), he continued.
Regional and international support was vital for the success of the Afghan-led peace process, he explained, hailing efforts for direct and result-oriented talks.
“We are keenly following the interactions between some of our partners and the Taliban, which is being coordinated with the Afghan government,” the ambassador said.
Afghan security forces are leading the struggle against terrorist and extremist groups, who have increased their brutality against the people, including journalists and aid workers.
Saikal said the Afghan security forces continued to grow in size, strength and professionalism, adding the size of the air force would be tripled by 2020. This would help boost the fight against terrorism.
Upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections would determine Afghanistan’s future stability, he believed, saying efforts were underway to ensure the polls were inclusive and transparent.
“Our people expect us to deliver on this national process, by addressing legitimate concerns and preventing fraud and insecurity from jeopardizing the process.”