NATO in a statement urged Afghan political leaders to come together, resolve their differences, and form an inclusive and stable government.
The statement noted that the current level of violence caused by the Taliban is not acceptable.
“We call urgently on the Taliban to reduce violence and create the conditions conducive to commence negotiations.”
It welcomed the establishment of a negotiating team in Afghanistan and called on the Taliban to enter negotiations with th team without further delay.
“We expect these negotiations to lead to an enduring and comprehensive peace agreement that puts an end to violence, safeguards the human rights of all Afghans, including women and children, upholds the rule of law, and ensures that Afghanistan never again serves as a safe haven for terrorists,” the statement said.
NATO also called for accelerating the release of prisoners, as a confidence building measure and to embrace the international community’s call for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire.
“The continued spread of the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the urgency of such measures. We call on the Taliban to do their part to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among the Afghan people,” the statement said.
US ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison said that the statement serves as a strong indicator of NATO’s unity and “our collective desire to see an end to conflict in the country.”
“For the past 18 years, the United States and our NATO Allies have stood shoulder to shoulder with the people of Afghanistan and the Afghan defense forces fighting for a future of peace and security,” she said in a statement.
“Never before have we been so close to that goal. Now we have an historic chance to move the peace process forward.It is time for a unified government of Afghanistan and the Taliban to overcome their differences, seize this opportunity, and grant the people of Afghanistan a sustainable peace,” the statement said.
US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad who signed an agreement with the Taliban in February welcomed the NATO statement.
“How urgently and with what conviction the sides respond to these steps will determine whether Afghanistan moves forward or remains mired in war, poverty, and disease,” Khalilzad said on Twitter.
