UNSC calls upon Taliban to go ahead with peace talks without any preconditions

The UN Security Council has welcomed Afghanistan government's offer to the Taliban to engage in direct peace talks, calling upon the terror group to go ahead with the process without any preconditions and threat of violence.

In a statement issued here yesterday by Security Council President Karel Jan Gustaaf van Oosterom of Netherlands, members of the Security Council welcomed the convening of the second meeting of the Kabul Process for Peace and Security Cooperation in Afghanistan on February 28 and commended the declaration agreed to by its participants.

"The members of the Security Council also welcomed the offer made by the Afghan Government to the Taliban to engage in direct peace talks, and called upon the Taliban to accept this offer without any preconditions and without the threat of violence, with the aim of an ultimate political settlement that leads to sustainable peace for the people of Afghanistan, the statement added.

The 15-nation Council underlined the importance of an inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process for the long-term prosperity and stability of Afghanistan and expressed their full support for the Afghan government's commitment to developing a practical plan for reconciliation.

They welcomed that the participants of the meeting recognised the Kabul Process as a forum and vehicle under the leadership of the Afghan government to lead peace efforts to end violence in Afghanistan.

"The Kabul Process must lead to the renunciation of violence and breaking of all ties to international terrorism, as well as the respect for the equal rights of all Afghans, including women, under the Afghan Constitution, the Council said in the statement.

The members of the Security Council also welcomed ongoing international efforts to advance peace and stability in Afghanistan.