The European Union and NATO have welcomed the start of bilateral talks between Afghanistan's warring factions today.
EU foreign policy chief Giuseppe Borrell has issued a video and NATO Secretary-General Jan Stoltenberg has issued separate messages.
In his message, he welcomed the move and said that now that all the conditions for starting bilateral talks have been met, the Afghan government and the Taliban should not miss this opportunity to achieve peace. And truly embrace this negotiation process.
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Joseph Borrell further demanded that the parties declare an immediate ceasefire throughout Afghanistan as a first step in the start of the talks.
He said that now that all the conditions for the start of talks in Afghanistan had been met, a reduction in violence alone was not enough.
Joseph Borrell also called on all countries supporting the process to pay special attention to Afghanistan's independence and sovereignty, as well as to take into account the fact that since 2001 Since then, Afghan society has moved forward on issues of social upliftment, including women's rights, without diminishing it and benefiting the weaker sections of Afghanistan.
He added that NATO would continue its resolution support mission in Afghanistan, not for combat but for training and advising Afghan forces.
