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US Welcomes Release of AUAF Professors

The US White House issued a statement on Wednesday responding to the release of Kevin King, American, and Timothy Weeks, Australian, saying: “The Taliban have indicated that the release of the two professors is intended as a goodwill gesture, which the United States welcomes.”

It added that the United States condemns the taking of innocent civilians as hostages.

The White House statement continued, “Additionally, we welcome the Taliban’s impending release of 10 Afghan prisoners, and the Afghan government’s release of 3 Taliban prisoners,” the statement said.

"We see these developments as hopeful signs that the Afghan war, a terrible and costly conflict that has lasted 40 years, may soon conclude through a political settlement," the statement added. "We commend President Ashraf Ghani and the Afghan government for advancing that goal while simultaneously working to strengthen and reform Afghanistan’s security forces."

According to the statement, during the past two years, President Ghani extended an offer to talk to the Taliban “without preconditions” and “called for a ceasefire during the Muslim holiday of Eid-ul-Fitr in 2018, which the Taliban reciprocated.” 

The statement addresses the complex Afghan political environment: “The United States also commended the many Afghan politicians who put their political differences aside and did not use these humanitarian gestures for personal political gain.”

Notably, the statement acknowledged that a change in recent Taliban attacks might indicate an opportunity for peace talks: “Along with a reduction of violence in Kabul during the past few days, the above developments give us hope for the success of intra-Afghan peace negotiations, which the United States stands ready to support.”

Meanwhile, US envoy in Kabul, John Bass, said in a tweet that "today we saw important humanitarian steps by Afghan govt and Taliban. American Kevin King, Australian colleague Tim Weeks and 10 ANSDF members will soon reunite with families. One step leads to a step in response. More steps create a pathway to peace in Afghanistan."

US Welcomes Release of AUAF Professors

"Both men were successfully recovered this morning...and will soon be reunited with their loved ones."

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The US White House issued a statement on Wednesday responding to the release of Kevin King, American, and Timothy Weeks, Australian, saying: “The Taliban have indicated that the release of the two professors is intended as a goodwill gesture, which the United States welcomes.”

It added that the United States condemns the taking of innocent civilians as hostages.

The White House statement continued, “Additionally, we welcome the Taliban’s impending release of 10 Afghan prisoners, and the Afghan government’s release of 3 Taliban prisoners,” the statement said.

"We see these developments as hopeful signs that the Afghan war, a terrible and costly conflict that has lasted 40 years, may soon conclude through a political settlement," the statement added. "We commend President Ashraf Ghani and the Afghan government for advancing that goal while simultaneously working to strengthen and reform Afghanistan’s security forces."

According to the statement, during the past two years, President Ghani extended an offer to talk to the Taliban “without preconditions” and “called for a ceasefire during the Muslim holiday of Eid-ul-Fitr in 2018, which the Taliban reciprocated.” 

The statement addresses the complex Afghan political environment: “The United States also commended the many Afghan politicians who put their political differences aside and did not use these humanitarian gestures for personal political gain.”

Notably, the statement acknowledged that a change in recent Taliban attacks might indicate an opportunity for peace talks: “Along with a reduction of violence in Kabul during the past few days, the above developments give us hope for the success of intra-Afghan peace negotiations, which the United States stands ready to support.”

Meanwhile, US envoy in Kabul, John Bass, said in a tweet that "today we saw important humanitarian steps by Afghan govt and Taliban. American Kevin King, Australian colleague Tim Weeks and 10 ANSDF members will soon reunite with families. One step leads to a step in response. More steps create a pathway to peace in Afghanistan."

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