US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday demanded “demonstrable evidence” from the Taliban that it can and will reduce violence before signing a peace agreement.
“We’re working on a peace and reconciliation plan, putting the commas in the right place, getting the sentences right,” Pompeo said at a press conference in Uzbekistan. “We got close once before to having an agreement: a piece of paper that we mutually executed and the Taliban were unable to demonstrate either their will or capacity or both to deliver on a reduction in violence.”
“So, what we are demanding now is demonstrable evidence of their will and capacity to reduce violence, to take down the threat, so the inter-Afghan talks … will have a less violent context,” he said. “We’re hopeful we can achieve that but we’re not there yet, and work certainly remains.”
Pompeo’s comments come two days after US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said during his visit to Kabul that no significant progress was made in renewed talks with the Taliban.
However, the envoy said that he was hopeful of reaching an understanding with the group on a reduction of hostilities.
