North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan Ambassador Nicholas Kay stated in Kabul on that ‘The gains of the last 17 years are very significant and NATO will continue to advocate for a durable political settlement that is built on these’, reports Khaama on April 3. Pointing towards Government’s initiative for peace process, Ambassador Kay said “President Ghani changed the game last year when he offered unconditional talks to the Taliban. He also added that ‘In 2019, the opportunity for peace is real,” he said, adding that Now it is time to end the war at the negotiating table’.
Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah on April 3 stated that peace with the Taliban will not mean the "Talibanization" of Afghanistan or underestimating the rights of the Afghan people, reports Tolo News. Abdullah said that peace with the Taliban somehow should be taken as a compromise and this means that the achievements of the country should be protected. He stated that ‘We have given the assurance that peace with the Taliban will not mean the Talibanization of the country, peace does not mean underestimating the rights of the citizens of Afghanistan, peace means compromises.
Separately, President Ashraf Ghani met with civil society members and journalists at the Presidential Palace on April 2 and stated that pressure on government to act "illegally" regarding peace is not acceptable, reports Tolo News. He stated that ‘The peace talks are without conditions but peace has conditions and the Afghan nation will set the limits for the talks. It will not be acceptable for us if there is pressure on us to act illegally’.