U.S. Renews Calls for Reduction in Violence

Sonny Leggett, a spokesman for the U.S. forces in Afghanistan, on Monday rejected the Taliban allegations that their strikes [on Helmand and Nangarhar] have violated February’s peace pact.

“The Taliban’s accusations the US violated the US-TB [U.S.-Taliban] agreement are false. US Forces have been clear & consistent: We will defend Afghan forces against TB attacks,” tweeted the spokesperson.

He reaffirmed calls for the warring parties to reduce violence.

“We renew our call for all sides to reduce violence,” Mr. Leggett said in the tweet.

The spokesman for the U.S. forces also pointed the blame of “unclaimed attacks” and “targeted” assassinations of government employees at Taliban, calling on the group to end it.

“The Taliban’s campaign of unclaimed attacks & targeted killings of government officials, civil society leaders & journalists must also cease for peace to succeed,” according to the spokesman.

Earlier, the Taliban accused the U.S. forces for air raids in Nangarhar and Helmand provinces and supporting Afghan forces’ operations in Kandahar province in recent days and blamed them for breaching a peace deal signed with the group on late February last year.