Kabul-Taliban talks have not resulted in any reduction in violence: Jaishankar

Talks between the Afghanistan authorities and the Taliban have not resulted in any reduction in violence, stated External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, mentioning that reviews from the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed a serious improve in violence regardless of the talks and a U.S.-Taliban settlement final yr. However, he stated India is ‘supportive’ of the Intra-Afghan negotiations, and referred to as for the United Nations to play a “leading role” in the reconciliation course of.

“Violence has only increased, especially after May 1,” Mr. Jaishankar instructed the U.N. Security Council at a particular assembly on Tuesday, as he referred to the May deadline that had initially been agreed to as a date for the U.S. troops pull-out from Afghanistan. “The country has been witnessing targeted attacks on religious and ethnic minorities, girl students, Afghan security forces, Ulemas [clerics], women occupying positions of responsibility, journalists, civil rights activists and youth,” he stated, calling for a “permanent and comprehensive ceasefire”.

According to the UNAMA report that was detailed by U.N. Secretary General’s Special Representative Deborah Lyons, civilian casualties have elevated by 29% in the primary quarter of 2021, in comparison with final yr, and ladies casualties elevated by 37% and little one casualties by 23%. Ms. Lyons stated not solely has the Taliban captured extra territory in the previous few weeks but additionally appears poised to take over key cities as soon as the overseas troops pull out.

American envoy to the U.N. Linda Thomas Greenfield defended the U.S. transfer to drag out troops as a rigorously thought of determination, however warned the Taliban that taking the “military path” would not deliver the group legitimacy.

Without making any direct references to Pakistan or any explicit terror group, Mr. Jaishankar referred to as for an finish to “terrorist safe havens” and “terrorist supply chains” in addition to cross-border terror, and stated the worldwide neighborhood should be certain that transit commerce from Afghanistan to the “high seas” is allowed.

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“It is equally important to ensure that the territory of Afghanistan is not used by terrorist groups to threaten or attack any other country.”

Afghanistan Foreign Minister Hanif Atmar, who attended the united states assembly, was extra candid accusing the Taliban of preserving its hyperlinks with the al-Qaeda and Pakistan-based terror teams together with the Lashkar-e-Toiba and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

He stated because the withdrawal of the U.S.-NATO troops is accomplished, the worldwide neighborhood would see that the Taliban has not saved any of its guarantees, together with the promise to chop ties with worldwide terrorism, to scale back violence and work in the direction of a ceasefire and to succeed in a political settlement with the federal government of Afghanistan.

Speaking at one other net convention on Tuesday, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani additionally stated the Taliban was placing its “relationship with its network and sponsors” forward of the Afghan folks, and referred to as on the militant group to “make a choice” between the LeT, the Jaish-e-Mohammad, the al-Qaeda and different teams or make a “common bond of patriotism” with the Afghan folks.

(With inputs from Sriram Lakshman in Washington)