“The United States welcomes the formation and the first Leadership Committee meeting of the Afghanistan High Council for National Reconciliation today,” read a statement by U.S. Department of State.
The authoritative council “will provide counsel and guidance” to the negotiators from the Afghan government on “terms of an agreement” with the Taliban “on a political roadmap, power-sharing, and a permanent ceasefire to end the country’s long war,” read the statement.
Its special envoy for Afghanistan peace, Zalmay Khalilzad, also welcomed the formation of the “authoritative” council and its Leadership Committee meeting and called recent progresses in peace “positive” and “hopeful.”
The inaugural meeting of Leadership Committee of High Council for National Reconciliation was held yesterday and attended by Afghan President and jihadi leaders as well as figures from political spectrum.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at the opening meeting of High Council for National Reconciliation said peace in Afghanistan has entered next phase.
Speaking at the meeting, President Ghani said as the next phase of peace talks enters, the need to provide counsel to government negotiators becomes more acute.
Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, who chairs the high reconciliation council, also spoke at the meeting, saying it has to be agreed “on how to preserve the achievements of the past, and at the same time, move forward and have a political settlement.”
Chairperson of the peace council described the establishment of Leadership Committee as a major step in strengthening the national consensus, adding the council has the authority to make decisions and is responsible to boost a political consensus.
Follow TKG on Twitter & Facebook
