The Afghan conflict can be resolved by direct intra-Afghan talks, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Tadamichi Yamamoto said on Tuesday, September 10, while briefing the UN Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan.
He further noted that “it is imperative for direct Afghanistan govt. & Taliban talks to commence.” He said the UN was ready to support an intra-Afghan peace process.
This comes days after US President Donald Trump called off direct talks between the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and the Taliban in Doha.
Following Trump’s decision, the Afghan government stressed that “genuine peace is possible when the Taliban stop the killing of Afghans, embrace an inclusive ceasefire, and enter into direct negotiations with the Afghan government.”
A day later, President Ghani remarked that the Afghan government was ready for a principled talks with the Taliban.
He, however, asserted that negotiations were “impossible” without a ceasefire.