U.S. Calls on Taliban to Quit Violence for Peace Talks

The Taliban needs to support the Afghan constitution and abandon terror and violence if it wants peace talks with the U.S., Pentagon’s Chief Spokesperson said.

“Our goal is to help the Afghan Security Forces become capable enough to ensure that the violence ends. The Taliban has to abandon terror, it has to abandon violence, and it has to support the Afghan constitution. Then they have to come to the table. And that is, ultimately, for the people of Afghanistan to come to an ultimate political resolution,” said Dana White, Pentagon’s Chief Spokesperson.

Washington says the U.S. was a part of Kabul process conference and was pleased to have representation at it.

“The Taliban should recognize that the Afghan Government and the Afghan people are offering confidence-building measures to show that real peace is possible. President Ghani made clear that there are no preconditions for peace. The United States and the international community strongly support the path to peace that president Ghani laid out in his speech,” said Heather Nauert, U.S. State Department spokeswoman.

This comes as Taliban have rejected the Afghan government’s peace proposal being offered to the group at the Kabul Process II conference.