The United States welcomed Thursday, September 9 the start, announced for Saturday, of inter-Afghan peace negotiations, calling on the belligerents not to "
waste
" this "
historic opportunity
" to end the war in Afghanistan.
"
I urge negotiators to show the pragmatism, restraint and flexibility necessary for this process to be successful,
" US Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo said in a statement, confirming that talks would start on Saturday. .
Read also: Afghanistan: the Taliban “ready” to start peace talks on Saturday
The Taliban announced Thursday that it was "
ready
" to start on Saturday these unprecedented direct negotiations with the Afghan government, delayed for more than six months, in an attempt to put an end to nearly 19 years of conflict.
Meanwhile, Kabul negotiators were due to leave Afghanistan on Friday for Doha, Qatar, where talks will take place.
The agreement signed on February 29 between the United States and the Taliban provided for the start of inter-Afghan peace negotiations on March 10, but the process has been repeatedly postponed.
Despite these postponements, Washington continued to withdraw its troops as provided for in this agreement.
"
The start of these talks is a historic opportunity for Afghanistan to end four decades of war and bloodshed,
" said Mike Pompeo.
“
The Afghan people have carried the burden of war for too long.
He aspires to peace
"and"
the time for peace has now come
", he insisted.
According to him, only a process "
led by Afghans
", and "
which respects the views of all Afghan communities, including women and ethnic and religious minorities
", can lead to "
lasting peace
".
"
This opportunity must not be wasted,
" added the US Secretary of State, who also reminded the Afghan government and the Taliban of their "
commitment
" to ensure "
that terrorists never again use Afghan soil for threaten the United States or its allies
”.