U.S. Diplomat Alice Wells Says Doors Still Open for Taliban Talks

The armed Taliban group still has the opportunity for negotiations and the peace doors are open to them, said Alice Wells, the Assistant Secretaries of U.S. Department of State for South and Asian Affairs.

The American diplomat Wells in an interview with VOA said, “Our message to Taliban is that the doors are open for talks. There is a path to peace and dignity. Those Taliban who are ready to stop violence can cut ties with terrorist and accept the Afghan constitutions.”

However, the Afghan government considers Pakistan’s role is more prominent in fight against terrorism.

“The Afghan government hopes that all counties particularly Pakistan fight against terrorism threats and continue their cooperation,” said Dawa Khan Mina Pal, President’s deputy spokesman.

This comes as Uzbekistan will host an international conference on peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan in Tashkent in the near future which will be involved regional powers and representatives from the US, Russia and China.

The event is aimed at exploring ways of bringing the Afghan government, the Taliban and other warring parties into direct peace talks.

Since President Donald Trump’s takeover, the US policy on Afghanistan and the region had become more active and clearer, Kamilov uttered.

Meanwhile, Russia supported Tashkent’s initiative to host the international conference on ‘Peace Process, Cooperation in the Sphere of Security and Regional Interaction.’

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: “The idea of holding the forum was put forward by our Uzbek friends at a special session of the United Nations Security Council in January.

“Today we have been discussing preparations for that milestone and major event.”

Lavrov further added that all current formats needed to be mobilized to push for a solution to the Afghan crisis.