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A conditions-based reduction in violence is a win for Afghanistan: Miller
The NATO forces commander in Afghanistan, General Scott Miller said that the Afghan and foreign forces uphold commitments to US-Taliban “reduction in violence” agreement.
Miller at a press briefing with Afghan top security officials Acting Defense Minister Assadullah Khalid and Acting Interior Minister Massoud Andarabi at NATO’s headquarters in Kabul said that today was the first test day of the week-long reduction in violence agreement, “Very clearly, this is a conditional effort…we are very committed and very serious about our obligations.”
“Personally, on behalf of Resolute Support, we are very committed, very serious about our obligations and we expect all sides – to include Taliban – to be very serious about the obligations as well,” said Miller.
“A conditions-based reduction in violence is a win for Afghanistan. The Taliban must fulfill their commitments,” said Miller. “It is up to the Taliban to move the ball forward toward peace.”
Meanwhile, Asadullah Khalid said that there are concerns regarding the possible disruptions by internal and foreign elements.
“We are committed to a comprehensive ceasefire. According to the President’s orders, we have paused all offensive operations against the Taliban. We are concerned that there are some groups inside Afghanistan that want to disrupt the environment,” Khalid added.
The Afghanistan Acting Interior Minister stressed that the Afghan forces are ready to give a response to any possible attack by the militants.
“The Afghan forces have received directions to monitor the situation,” Massoud Andarabi said.
The seven-day reduction in violence (RiV) between the Afghan and foreign forces and the Taliban militants began on Friday midnight.
The Taliban said in a statement that during the week-long period of RiV there would be no attacks on Major cities, military corps, garrisons and bases of foreign forces.
If the violence reduction period is observed successfully, the United States and the Taliban will sign an agreement on Feb. 29 that could lead to the withdrawal of thousands of U.S. troops from the war-weary country.
Two people have been killed amid protests against a poppy eradication campaign in northeastern Badakhshan province, local officials said.
Authorities said counter-narcotics forces were deployed on Friday to Atan Jalo area of Argo district to destroy poppy fields. Clashes erupted after a number of farmers and residents reportedly attempted to block the operation.
Officials said a child was killed during Friday’s unrest, while another person died on Saturday as protests and tensions continued in the area.
According to local authorities, demonstrators also temporarily blocked the Kishm–Faizabad highway, disrupting traffic for several hours before it was reopened following coordinated efforts by security officials, religious scholars, and community elders.
Officials blamed “drug traffickers and criminal groups” for inciting the unrest and said security forces have since regained control of the area.
A high-ranking Uzbek delegation comprising government officials and private sector representatives from the Republic of Karakalpakstan arrived in Kabul on Saturday to discuss the expansion of trade and economic cooperation with Afghanistan.
The delegation is headed by Amanbay Orinbayev, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Karakalpakstan.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the delegation is expected to hold talks with Nooruddin Azizi, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, focusing on strengthening bilateral trade and economic relations.
The ministry said the visiting delegation will also participate in trade connectivity meetings and business-to-business sessions aimed at enhancing commercial cooperation between the two sides.
As part of the visit, the Uzbek delegation is also scheduled to travel to Balkh province, where members will attend additional trade meetings and inaugurate an exhibition showcasing Uzbekistan’s domestic products.
Hamid Karzai, former president of Afghanistan, has expressed concern over recent developments along the Durand Line, saying Pakistan has increased military and economic pressure on villages and residents living near the line.
In a statement, Karzai said the apparent purpose of these pressures is to push residents of Durand Line areas to seek help from Pakistani institutions for resolving security and other local issues.
He added that, amid this situation, some tribal elders from both sides of the Durand Line recently signed documents described as “peace agreements,” which were later officially welcomed by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to Karzai, these developments amount to an effort by Pakistan to legitimize the Durand Line and represent an action against Afghanistan’s national sovereignty.
The former Afghan president also urged the relevant Afghan authorities to provide the public with a clear explanation regarding the recent agreements and developments along the Durand Line.
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