WASHINGTON: The United States urged the Taliban on Saturday to shun violence and join the process as insurgent attacks kill 51 people in Kabul, according to foreign media authorities.
“We again call upon the Taliban, other Afghan militant groups, and anyone supporting them to bring an end to violence in Afghanistan,” said a US State Department spokesman Mark Toner.
This is the fourth such statement from a senior US official since last week when officials in Kabul announced that the Taliban leader Mullah Omar has died, reportedly.
“The United States stands by the Afghan people and remains committed to assisting our Afghan partners in their efforts to achieve a stable, secure, and prosperous future,” Mr Toner said.
Observers in Washington had interpreted Kabul’s announcement as an effort to persuade a rudderless Taliban movement to give up militancy and work with the Afghan government.