Delegations of both the Taliban and the Afghan government have said in a joint declaration on Thursday in Tehran that war is not the solution to the Afghan problem and that “a peaceful solution should be sought.” The two held meetings for two days that was mediated by Iran.

They also agreed to hold further talks on "issues that need further consultation and clarity, such as establishing a mechanism for the transition from war to lasting peace, and the agreed Islamic system and how to achieve it.

The two-day meeting between the Taliban delegation, headed by Abbas Stanekzai,  and the Afghan delegation, headed by Yoonus Qanooni, was held in the Iranian capital with an opening speech by Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister. 

Significantly, the United States on Wednesday urged Afghanistan’s neighbors to play a constructive role to help Afghan parties reach a political settlement to end the war. It also termed Tehran’s initiative of holding talks between the warring sides "constructive".

“What Iran is trying to do or is in the process of doing by hosting this meeting may well be constructive,” Ned Prince, the spokesperson of the US State Department, was quoted as saying by TOLOnews. Neighbors (of Afghanistan), he said, need to be responsible stakeholders.  

On the role of the regional players, he said for a just and durable peace, the solution needs to be supported by regional countries. “For too long, many of Afghanistan's neighbors have been happy to see the United States engaged and the United States alone engaged,” he added. 

(SAM)