The North Atlantic Council called, in a statement on Wednesday, 9 December, for an immediate end to the violence in Afghanistan.
Stressing that the recent agreement between the government and the Taliban on procedures for peace negotiations and the first meeting of the Leadership Committee of the High Council for National Reconciliation represented “important steps” towards the establishment of a comprehensive and lasting peace in the country, the North Atlantic Council urged the parties to “build on this momentum” by agreeing to immediately end violence and by negotiating toward a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire and a political roadmap for a prosperous Afghanistan at peace with itself and its neighbours.
“Violence, especially driven by Taliban attacks, continues to undermine the peace process. They must end”, insists the Council.
It also calls on the Taliban and the Afghan government to honour their commitments to the peace process following the U.S.-Taliban agreement and the U.S.-Afghanistan joint statement.
For the North Atlantic Council, the peace negotiations must lead to a “enduring and comprehensive” agreement that puts an end to violence, builds on the progress of the last 19 years, upholds the Rule of law and ensures that Afghanistan never again serves as a safe haven for terrorists. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)