ISLAMABAD – New developments reported over crucial Afghanistan peace talks.
Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani is meeting with top US and NATOofficials on Friday in Germany at the Munich Security Conference, accordingto tweets from the Presidential Palace.
This comes as events in the US-Taliban peace negotiation talks in Dohaappear to accelerate, following an announcement earlier this week of USPresident Trump’s “conditional” approval of a peace plan that wouldapparently lead to the withdrawal of US troops, and Thursday’s statement byDefense Secretary Mark Esper of a seven-day reduction in violence agreementwith the Taliban, made in Doha, Qatar, TOLO News has reported.
Ghani’s spokesman tweeted that a meeting is underway in Munich betweenPresident Ghani, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, US Defense SecretaryMark Esper, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan ReconciliationZalmay Khalilzad and General Scott Miller, the commander of US forces inAfghanistan.
[image: Ghani’s spokesman tweeted that a meeting is underway in Munichbetween President Ghani, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, US DefenseSecretary Mark Esper, the US Special Representative for AfghanistanReconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and General Scott Miller, the commander ofUS forces in Afghanistan.]
“Today I’ll meet President Ghani and we’ll discuss efforts to find apeaceful negotiated solution to the conflict in Afghanistan.
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NATO currently has around 16,000 troops in Afghanistan and we are ready toadjust that force level if the Taliban is able to demonstrate the real willand ability to reduce violence,” NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg told reportersin Munich Germany on Friday.
“Important discussion with President Ashraf Ghani about the way forward inAfghanistan. NATO Allies & partners remain firmly committed to create theconditions for a sustainable peace.
The Taliban need to show the will & ability to reduce violence & negotiatein good faith,” NATO chief tweeted.
