The UN mission in Afghanistan welcomed return of Islamic Republic’s negotiation team to Doha following a three-week pause and called on both sides to rapidly resume peace talks.
“The negotiators are confronted with some daunting challenges and much work remains,” read the statement.
Deborah Lyons, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan urged both parties to seize the opportunity for a reduction in violence that will put an end to “further loss of Afghan lives,” the statement quoted. She also called on the two sides “to reach a political settlement that is acceptable to all segments of Afghan society,”
“A cessation in fighting would create a better atmosphere for talks, provide hope to the people, and allow humanitarian actors to deliver much-needed winter assistance to Afghans across the whole country,” the SG Lyons said.
The UN assured it would hold on its close contact with both sides and stands ready to assist as needed.
The UN agency’s remarks on peace talks and reduction in violence come as country gripped with decades-long war is still witnessing high levels of violence amid peace efforts of the negotiators from the government and the Taliban.
Following a three-week break, Afghan government peace negotiators left Kabul Tuesday for Doha to begin the next round of peace talks. The talks were paused to seek internal consultations.
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