Instead of “unfounded charges of violations and inflammatory rhetoric” which prevent peace to be advanced, sides should “strictly” adhere to the articles of the agreement, said Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation.
He further said that violence remains “distressingly high” despite the recent reaffirmation of the need for reduction in hostilities.
The U.S. State Department’s special envoy added in a thread that continued high levels of violence in the country could threaten the Afghan peace process.
He urged warring parties to live up to their commitment to “gradually reduce violence”.
Mr. Khalilzad further said that Afghans have been “stalked” by violence for too long. The “tragedy” in Ghor, where the car bomb blew up near a police headquarters and claimed lives of more than a dozen and injured a hundred more can be a recent example.
“The belief that says violence must escalate to win concessions at the negotiating table is very risky,” Mr. Khalilzad said in a thread. “Such an approach can undermine the peace process and repeats past miscalculations by Afghan leaders,” he continued.
Taliban Blames U.S. Forces for Violating Peace Agreement
Earlier, the Taliban blamed the U.S. forces for breaching the agreement it struck with Washington on late February, allegations that sparked denials.
“American forces have violated the Doha agreement in various forms by carrying out excessive air strikes following the new developments in Helmand province,” Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said in a statement on Sunday, warning of the consequences if such actions continued.
“Responsibility and consequences from continuation of such actions shall fall squarely on the shoulders of the American side,” the Taliban spokesman warned
U.S. Forces Reject Taliban Allegations
Sonny Leggett, a spokesman for the U.S. forces in Afghanistan, rejected the Taliban allegations that their strikes [on Helmand and Farah] have violated February’s peace pact.
“We categorically reject the Taliban’s claim the United States has violated the U.S.-Taliban Agreement. U.S. airstrikes in Helmand and Farah have been and continue to be solely in defense of the ANDSF as they are being attacked by the Taliban,” tweeted Sonny Leggett.
The airstrikes are consistent with both the articles of U.S.-Taliban peace deal and a joint declaration of the Afghan government the United States, he added.
“The entire world has witnessed the Taliban’s offensive operations in Helmand – attacks which injured and displaced thousands of innocent Afghan civilians,” Mr. Leggett tweeted, and reaffirmed a call for “all sides” to reduce violence.
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