The head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has praised nearly a year of peace talks between the US government and the Taliban militant group.
Tadamichi Yamamoto said in an interview with NHK that the two sides are now the closest they have ever been during the past 18 years to achieving peace, although they have effectively shelved all negotiations.
The US government called off talks earlier this month following a car bomb attack in Kabul that killed an American soldier and more than 10 others.
Yamamoto also referred to a draft peace accord that the US government said it had agreed to with the Taliban in principle.
He said the draft mentions two points, withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan and preventing the country from being used by international terrorist organizations.
Yamamoto said he expects the troop withdrawal to take place in stages so it will not affect the security situation.
The envoy said he predicts that once the US government and the Taliban formalize the accord, the Afghan government will start peace talks with the Taliban to discuss a ceasefire.
Yamamoto stressed that the UN will offer full support to allow the US and the Taliban to resume negotiations.
He is also the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan.
