Afghanistan’s international allies welcomed the announcement on the start of the intra-Afghan negotiations on September 12, calling on all stakeholders of the talks to seize this “historic opportunity” and come up with inclusive approach at the negotiating table, Tolo News reported on September 11. United States (US) President Donald Trump on September 10 said that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will head to Doha later in the day to attend the intra-Afghan negotiations. “I can announce, with great pride, that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be departing this evening on a historic trip to Doha, Qatar, for the beginning of intra-Afghan peace negotiations,” Trump said at a press conference at the White House.
In a statement, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed the announcement that Afghanistan peace negotiations will begin on September 12. The start of these talks marks a historic opportunity for Afghanistan to bring an end to four decades of war and bloodshed, he said. “Only through an Afghan-owned, Afghan-led political process -- one that respects the views of all Afghan communities, including women and ethnic and religious minorities--can the parties achieve a durable peace,” he added.
US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad who held 18-month-long talks with the Taliban in Doha that led to a peace deal with the group, welcomed the announcements by Qatar, the Afghan Presidential Palace, and the Taliban to start the negotiations on September 12 and said “this is a historic opportunity to end a forty-year war that has no military solution and kills too many Afghans.”
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also welcomed the announcement on the start of the talks and said “all parties should seize this historic opportunity and build on the gains made with so much sacrifice. He reiterated that NATO remains committed to Afghanistan’s long-term security.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Eriksen Soreide also welcomed the announcement on the start of the intra-Afghan negotiations and said in a statement that “this is an historic opportunity for peace in Afghanistan. “We encourage a constructive and inclusive approach at the negotiating table,” she said.