NATO on Tuesday called on the Afghan government and the Taliban to urgently resolve issues related to prisoner releases and enter into peace talks.
The alliance in a statement said that the current level of violence remains “unacceptably high”, causing instability and undermining confidence in the peace process.
The statement said that during Eid ceasefires and the period of reduced violence leading to the signing of US-Taliban deal and US-Afghanistan Joint Declaration, all sides demonstrated the political will and capacity to stop the fighting.
It echoed UN call on the Taliban to agree to a humanitarian ceasefire that applies to all sides.
NATO reiterated that its military presence in Afghanistan is conditions-based and that the Afghan government and the Taliban should ensure terrorists never again find safe haven on Afghan soil. “Recent heinous attacks targeting civilians, including women, children, civil society members, religious figures, and health care workers throughout Afghanistan underscore the urgency of fulfilling these critical commitments,” it said.
The statement reaffirmed NATO’s commitment to Afghanistan. “We expect intra-Afghan 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,” NATO said.
