UN Security Council Calls on Taliban to Accept Peace Talks Without Preconditions

The UN Security Council has welcomed the Afghan government’s offer to the Taliban group to engage in peace talks and has called the group to accept the process without any preconditions and threat of violence.

In a statement issued by Security Council President Karel Jan Gustaaf van Oosterom of Netherlands, members of the Security Council welcomed the convening of the second meeting of the Kabul Process for Peace and Security Cooperation in Afghanistan on February 28 and commended the declaration agreed to by its participants.

“The members of the Security Council also welcomed the offer made by the Afghan Government to the Taliban to engage in direct peace talks, and called upon the Taliban to accept this offer without any preconditions and without the threat of violence, with the aim of an ultimate political settlement that leads to sustainable peace for the people of Afghanistan,” the statement added.

In the meantime, the Afghan government says the Taliban group should respond to Afghanistan’s peace offer, otherwise it will indicate the support and influence of Pakistan’s ISI from them.

The Taliban group has reportedly said that no decision has been made on Afghan government’s peace offer.

However many believe Taliban would not be ready for peace talks until pressures become more on Pakistan.