The Taliban, Gulbadin Hekmatyar’s(above) radical Hizb-i-Islami and Afghan political opposition groups inside the country also sent their representatives to the talks.— File Photo by Reuters

WASHINGTON: The United States has welcomed talks between Afghan militants and government representatives, hoping that the move would help restore peace and stability to Afghanistan.

“The United States continues to support an Afghan-led peace process. We continue to support Afghans sitting down with other Afghans in pursuit of that goal,” US State Department’s deputy spokesman Patrick Ventrell told a briefing in Washington.

The Paris meeting, held on Thursday and Friday, marked the first ever face-to-face talks between the rivals since 2001 when the United States unseated the Taliban regime in Kabul and helped set up the Karzai government with support from the Northern Alliance.

The Paris conference, hosted by a French think tank, Foundation for Strategic Research, brought together representatives from the Afghan government, the Northern Alliance and various armed militant groups.

The Taliban, Gulbadin Hekmatyar’s radical Hizb-i-Islami and Afghan political opposition groups inside the country also sent their representatives to the talks.

Mr Ventrell told the briefing that although the United States did not attend the meeting, “clearly we’ve been in support of Afghans talking to Afghans about their future.”

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.