The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar agreed, on Tuesday 4 May, that a successful peace process requires “the Taliban to engage in good faith, with a serious commitment towards finding a political solution.
As foreign troops start their withdrawal from the country (see EUROPE 12699/6), the resumption of peace negotiations, initially scheduled for 24 April, was postponed at the request of the Taliban (see EUROPE 12705/19).
In a joint statement, the High Representative and the Minister reaffirmed their strong and continuing support for an inclusive, Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. “Any political settlement must protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Afghans (...) and build upon the economic, social, political and development gains achieved since 2001 under a democratic constitutional framework”, the two men said, recalling that the nature of the peace agreement and its outcome will shape the future of international support and assistance.
Mr Borrell and Mr Jaishankar also strongly condemned the “unacceptable” level of violence perpetrated against Afghan national forces and civilians, reiterating their call for an “immediate, permanent and comprehensive” nationwide ceasefire. “An effective and unconditional cessation of hostilities is essential for creating the appropriate conditions for the negotiations to proceed meaningfully, for building trust between the parties, for instilling confidence in the Afghan people, and for demonstrating a genuine commitment of the Taliban to lasting reconciliation”, they warned.
Reaffirming that security in Afghanistan was intrinsically linked to security in the region, the High Representative and the Minister agreed on the need for Afghanistan’s neighbours and regional stakeholders to be active and honest facilitators in promoting a lasting, stable and peaceful resolution to the conflict.
See the joint statement: https://bit.ly/3xNhBQV (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)