The US ambassador to Afghanistan John Bass said on Wednesday that Washington is working on a program aimed at persuading Afghanistan’s neighboring countries and other regional stakeholders to convince the Taliban to enter into talks with the Afghan government.

Speaking at a ceremony marking America’s Independence Day, Bass said the hopes and aspirations of the Afghan people doubled following the ceasefire over Eid-ul-Fitr.

The second day of protests in Maimana city in Faryab province over the arrest of Afghan Local Police Commander Nizamuddin Qaisari on Wednesday turned violent with eyewitnesses reporting shots being fired.

Eyewitnesses said that large numbers of protesters stormed the NDS office on Wednesday morning and gunfire followed.