US urges Pakistan, Afghanistan to take forward Taliban peace talks

Pakistan has suffered deeply as a result of Taliban attacks in the country, says Kirby

The United States on Tuesday urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to continue to cooperate to take forward the process of reconciliation with the Afghan Taliban, with the aim of ending violence in the region, Radio Pakistan reported.

"The United States welcomes the dialogue and the cooperation that has taken place between the two countries," US State Department spokesperson John Kirby said during a press briefing.

Read: US lauds Pakistan for facilitating Murree talks

In response to a question, Kirby said Pakistan had suffered deeply as a result of Taliban attacks in its country, while both Pakistani and Afghan soldiers have rendered sacrifices.

Earlier, Commander Resolute Support Mission & US Forces in Afghanistan General John Campbell, acknowledged Pakistan’s sincere efforts in bringing peace in Afghanistan, particularly its role in facilitating the recent peace talks between Taliban and the government in Kabul held in Murree.

Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process on several occasions however, the second round of face-to-face talks between Afghan government officials and Taliban representatives, brokered by Pakistan, were postponed following confirmation of Mullah Omar’s death.

Read: Ghani, Nawaz discuss Afghan peace talks

However, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last week discussed initiating another round of talks between Afghan Taliban and the government in Kabul.