In a stern message to Afghan warring parties, the European Union has called for “immediate, comprehensive, nationwide, and unconditional” ceasefire in Afghanistan.

Terming the high level of civilian casualties “unacceptable,” the EU said, “Killings and peace talks cannot go hand in hand.” A recently released report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) shows though the numbers came down by 30 % in comparison to the last year in the same period but remain high. 

Between 23 -27 October, a total of 58 civilians were killed and another 143 were injured alone in four provinces of Afghanistan, a survey by Tolonews.

Nearly half of the casualties, 30, mostly children, alone happened in one of the deadliest attacks on an educational center in the west of Kabul. US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, also expressed his disappointment and concern about the high number of civilian casualties in the Afghan war. 

On Tuesday evening, in an apparent warning, Khalilzad said the window for political settlement won’t stay open forever. Khalilzad on Wednesday evening also met with the Taliban delegation in Doha, Qatar, the Taliban Doha office spokesperson Dr. Muhammad Naeem informed in a tweet.