WASHINGTON – The top commander for US and NATO forces in Afghanistan saidWednesday that warring parties now have an “unprecedented” opportunity forpeace, and insisted President Donald Trump s strategy for the beleagueredcountry is working.

“We have an unprecedented opportunity, or window of opportunity, for peaceright now,” said General John Nicholson, the outgoing commander of NATO sResolute Support mission.

He spoke to Pentagon reporters a year after Trump unveiled his strategy forAfghanistan, which increased the US troop presence there and now includes arenewed push to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table.

Despite a wave of violence that has rocked Afghanistan and its capitalKabul in recent weeks, killing hundreds of civilians and Afghan securityforces, Nicholson said he was seeing signs of hope.

“There s been progress on the peace process,” he said, pointing to a shortceasefire in June, the first since the US-led invasion in 2001 that toppledthe Taliban regime.

Then on Sunday, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani unveiled anotherceasefire offer, saying security forces would observe the truce beginningthis week — but only if the militants reciprocated.

“So far we ve not heard if the Taliban will accept or reject thisceasefire,” Nicholson said.

The June ceasefire spurred hopes that a new path was opening for possiblepeace talks in the country.

The Taliban have long insisted on direct talks with Washington and refusedto negotiate with the Afghan government, which they see as illegitimate.

In June, Washington indicated a change in its longstanding policy, with USofficials meeting Taliban representatives in Doha in July.

But Nicholson stressed that any peace talks must ultimately be “Afghan-led,Afghan-owned.”

“The US is prepared to support, facilitate and participate in thesediscussions,” he said. – APP/AFP