To end war in Afghanistan, Taliban calls for direct peace talk with US

Kabul, February 28: In Afghanistan, the Taliban have called for direct talks with the United States to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Afghanistan.

The offer for talks from the Afghan Taliban comes a day before the second round of a regional peace conference in Kabul, where representatives from 25 countries will discuss counter-terrorism and conflict resolution strategies in the war.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani speaking at the Kabul Process Conference proposed a ceasefire and a release of prisoners as part of a range of options including new elections, involving the militants, and a constitutional review as part of a pact with the Taliban.

“We are making this offer without preconditions in order to lead to a peace agreement,” Ghani said in opening remarks to the conference attended by officials from around 25 countries involved in the so-called Kabul Process.

“The Taliban are expected to give input to the peace-making process, the goal of which is to draw the Taliban, as an organization, to peace talks,” he said, adding that he would not “pre-judge” any group seeking peace.

About 23 countries, including Pakistan, are participating in the day-long event. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale is representing India at the conference.

International bodies like the European Union, United Nations and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation are also attending the conference. The meeting aims to secure support for an agreement to end backing of cross-border terrorism and to find a peaceful solution in ending the decades old insurgency in Afghanistan.

The United States last year stepped up its military assistance to Afghanistan, notably through a sharp increase in air strikes, with the aim of breaking a stalemate with the insurgents and forcing them to the negotiating table.

While the US military says the strategy has hit the Taliban hard, they still control or contest much of the country and continue to inflict severe casualties on Afghan forces. They also claimed responsibility for two major attacks in Kabul last month that killed or wounded hundreds of civilians.