On Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 August, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini reiterated the "urgent need to find a swift, viable and durable solution to [the] current challenges" facing Afghanistan.
"Political stability remains a prerequisite for progress – for the sake of the country and the Afghan people" , she said during phone calls with Afghanistan's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah (on 24 August) and President Ashraf Ghani (on 25 August), according to a press release from the European External Action Service (EEAS). Mogherini also hailed a new round of talks, announced for 25 August, between Abdullah and Ghani about implementation of the national unity government, following a meeting two weeks ago.
According to the EEAS, Mogherini expressed her confidence in "the president and the chief executive to collectively live up to their commitments and to help maintain important international support". In addition, Mogherini spoke to Abdullah and Ghani about the upcoming conference on Afghanistan, to be held in Brussels on 4-5 October, which will provide "a timely opportunity for the international community and the Afghan National Unity Government to renew their partnership, and to take further steps towards a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan".
Mogherini also offered Ghani her condolences for the attack on the American University in Kabul during the evening of 24 August and reiterated "the European Union's solidarity with the Afghan authorities in the fight against terrorism". Seven students, two police officers and two attackers were killed in the attack, and around 30 students and lecturers were wounded. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)