As the Taliban and the Afghan government set to resume the second round of the Intra-Afghan negotiation, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) urged both sides to reduce violence in order to create a better atmosphere for talks and better humanitarian assistance.

“I urge both sides to use this opportunity to move ahead to create the conditions for a reduction in violence that will end further loss of Afghan lives and reach a political settlement that is acceptable to all segments of Afghan society,” Deborah Lyons, UN secretary general’s special representative for Afghanistan, said in a statement.

In the statement, the UN also assured the parties of its support, if necessary.

UNAMA also noted the fact that the negotiators are faced with “daunting challenges” and the talks are crucial to end the fighting in the country. The statement also acknowledged that the “two sides cooperated well in the historic first round of talks.”

Deborah also urged both parties to find a political solution that is acceptable to all segments of Afghan society.

Emphasizing the importance of reducing violence, she said, “A cessation in fighting would create a better atmosphere for talks, thus provide hope to the people, and allow humanitarian actors to deliver much-needed winter assistance to Afghans across the whole country.”