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Reactions to US and Taliban Peace Deal

Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah in a statement on TOLOnews on Saturday, hours after the peace agreement was signed between the US and Taliban, said that he hopes the negotiation team will represent all Afghans.

Abdullah thanked the Afghan forces for their playing a role in peace and counterinsurgency, adding that he attended Saturday’s ceremony in Kabul for the announcement of the Afghan-US joint declaration, and his attendance does not mean his stance has changed on the election. He attended as the chief executive, he said. 

Abdullah says that the Taliban, instead of considering it a victory, should see the deal as a step closer to peace.

Former president Hamid Karzai in a statement welcomed the peace deal between the US and Taliban and said he hopes it will open a door to enduring peace in Afghanistan.

He said that the signing of a peace agreement between the Taliban and US is a major step towards peace, adding that “I hope this agreement will pave the way for an inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue and lasting peace.”

NATO also welcomed the peace agreement and said recent progress on peace has ushered in a reduction of violence and paved the way for intra-Afghan negotiations between a fully inclusive Afghan national team and the Taliban to reach a comprehensive peace agreement.

“We call on the Taliban to embrace this opportunity for peace,” NATO said in a statement.

“In this context, the alliance and its partners in the Resolute Support Mission will implement conditions-based adjustments, including a reduction to our military presence,” it said.

NATO reaffirms its longstanding commitment to Afghanistan and ongoing support for the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces. We are committed to working with the Afghan people and government to support next steps toward peace, the statement said. 

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in a statement on Saturday welcomed the successful conclusion of a seven-day period of Reduction in Violence (RIV), expressing hope that it will lead to the start of intra-Afghan negotiations.

“All stakeholders must now look to make genuine and concrete steps toward ending the war,” said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA.

The statement also reads: “Intra-Afghan negotiations are central to the peace efforts. The United Nations welcomes the commitment expressed by the parties to intra-Afghan negotiations; and urges them to move ahead expeditiously with their preparations to start the negotiations, including through forming a truly representative negotiation team.”

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan welcomed the deal, saying: “This is the start of a peace and reconciliation process to end decades of war and suffering of the Afghan people.”

“I have always maintained that a pol solution, no matter how complex, is the only meaningful path to peace,” he said.

“Now all stakeholders have to ensure that spoilers are kept at bay. My prayers for peace for the Afghan people who have suffered for decades of bloodshed. Pakistan is committed to playing its role in ensuring the agreement holds and succeeds in bringing peace to Afghanistan,” he added.

India’s spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar told India Today that India will continue to extend all support to Afghanistan as a "contiguous neighbour," suggesting that the Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir belongs to India.

"India's consistent policy is to support all opportunities that can bring peace, security and stability in Afghanistan; end violence; cut ties with international terrorism; and lead to a lasting political settlement through an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan controlled process," said Kumar.

"As a contiguous neighbour, India will continue to extend all support to the government and people of Afghanistan in realising their aspirations for a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future where the interest of all sections of Afghan society are protected," he said.

"We note that the entire political spectrum in Afghanistan, including the government, the democratic polity and civil society, has welcomed the opportunity and hope for peace and stability generated by these agreements," he added.

The Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada also in a statement said: “This victory is the collective victory of the entire Muslim and Mujahid nation – of our fellow brothers and sisters who presented monumental and extraordinary sacrifices of life and wealth for nearly two decades.”

Reactions to US and Taliban Peace Deal

Abdullah said his participation as chief executive in Saturday’s ceremony does not change his stance on the election results.

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Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah in a statement on TOLOnews on Saturday, hours after the peace agreement was signed between the US and Taliban, said that he hopes the negotiation team will represent all Afghans.

Abdullah thanked the Afghan forces for their playing a role in peace and counterinsurgency, adding that he attended Saturday’s ceremony in Kabul for the announcement of the Afghan-US joint declaration, and his attendance does not mean his stance has changed on the election. He attended as the chief executive, he said. 

Abdullah says that the Taliban, instead of considering it a victory, should see the deal as a step closer to peace.

Former president Hamid Karzai in a statement welcomed the peace deal between the US and Taliban and said he hopes it will open a door to enduring peace in Afghanistan.

He said that the signing of a peace agreement between the Taliban and US is a major step towards peace, adding that “I hope this agreement will pave the way for an inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue and lasting peace.”

NATO also welcomed the peace agreement and said recent progress on peace has ushered in a reduction of violence and paved the way for intra-Afghan negotiations between a fully inclusive Afghan national team and the Taliban to reach a comprehensive peace agreement.

“We call on the Taliban to embrace this opportunity for peace,” NATO said in a statement.

“In this context, the alliance and its partners in the Resolute Support Mission will implement conditions-based adjustments, including a reduction to our military presence,” it said.

NATO reaffirms its longstanding commitment to Afghanistan and ongoing support for the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces. We are committed to working with the Afghan people and government to support next steps toward peace, the statement said. 

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in a statement on Saturday welcomed the successful conclusion of a seven-day period of Reduction in Violence (RIV), expressing hope that it will lead to the start of intra-Afghan negotiations.

“All stakeholders must now look to make genuine and concrete steps toward ending the war,” said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA.

The statement also reads: “Intra-Afghan negotiations are central to the peace efforts. The United Nations welcomes the commitment expressed by the parties to intra-Afghan negotiations; and urges them to move ahead expeditiously with their preparations to start the negotiations, including through forming a truly representative negotiation team.”

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan welcomed the deal, saying: “This is the start of a peace and reconciliation process to end decades of war and suffering of the Afghan people.”

“I have always maintained that a pol solution, no matter how complex, is the only meaningful path to peace,” he said.

“Now all stakeholders have to ensure that spoilers are kept at bay. My prayers for peace for the Afghan people who have suffered for decades of bloodshed. Pakistan is committed to playing its role in ensuring the agreement holds and succeeds in bringing peace to Afghanistan,” he added.

India’s spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar told India Today that India will continue to extend all support to Afghanistan as a "contiguous neighbour," suggesting that the Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir belongs to India.

"India's consistent policy is to support all opportunities that can bring peace, security and stability in Afghanistan; end violence; cut ties with international terrorism; and lead to a lasting political settlement through an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan controlled process," said Kumar.

"As a contiguous neighbour, India will continue to extend all support to the government and people of Afghanistan in realising their aspirations for a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future where the interest of all sections of Afghan society are protected," he said.

"We note that the entire political spectrum in Afghanistan, including the government, the democratic polity and civil society, has welcomed the opportunity and hope for peace and stability generated by these agreements," he added.

The Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada also in a statement said: “This victory is the collective victory of the entire Muslim and Mujahid nation – of our fellow brothers and sisters who presented monumental and extraordinary sacrifices of life and wealth for nearly two decades.”

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