State Dept. calls for Taliban to accept peace negotiations amid escalating violence

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 7:00 AM PT – Saturday, July 24, 2021

The Biden administration sought to take action over the growing unrest in the Middle East. During an interview on Friday, Principal Deputy State Department spokesperson Jalina Porter condemned the recent upsurge in Taliban attacks following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Porter urged the Taliban to come together to negotiate a settlement between the Islamic Republic in order to end 40 years of war.

“The Taliban must go beyond issuing statements denying territorial offenses and targeted attacks. If this is truly not Taliban policy, their leadership should condemn these atrocities and violations of basic rights,” she expressed. “…We continue to call for an immediate end to ongoing violence, which is largely driven by the Taliban.”

.@SecDef: Our [Afghanistan] drawdown continues in a safe and orderly manner, and we are still on track to finish up by the end of August. @POTUS has made a decision, and we are going to get it done and get it done right. pic.twitter.com/JrPeFtHpOx

— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) July 21, 2021

Porter went on to say the State Department has been working to bring the Afghan government and Taliban together for peace talks before violence in the country escalated any further.

“We continue to do all we can to galvanize and support the diplomatic process toward peace,” she stated. “Together with the international community, we urge all parties to reach a negotiated political settlement and a permanent and comprehensive cease fire.”

In response, the Taliban said there wouldn’t be peace until a completely new government was negotiated. According to a Taliban spokesman on Friday, the terrorist organization believes peace talks are an unrealistic approach and ultimately want the Afghan government to surrender.

“They don’t want reconciliation, but they want surrendering. They want, ‘come and have ceasefire and we will continue our government as it is,’” he explained. “…It is necessary that all Afghans should have or should agree upon a new government and that government would replace this Kabul administration, and that government will be acceptable to us and to other Afghans.”

Joint statement by @NATOscr 🇺🇸🇪🇺🇫🇷🇩🇪🇮🇹🇳🇴🇬🇧 committing to a strong partnership with #Afghanistan & reiterating the urgency of reaching a ceasefire to ensure the success of the #AfghanPeaceProcess. pic.twitter.com/5W6vDHh0Rl

— NATO in Afghanistan (@NATOscr) July 24, 2021

Recently, Taliban forces have taken control of strategic border crossings in Afghanistan, which has threatened multiple provincial capitals.

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