ISLAMABAD: The United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, has said that the US forces have quit five bases in Afghanistan as part of its commitment under the February 29, peace deal, and asked the Taliban to reduce violence.

In a statement on Twitter on Tuesday, Khalizad, who negotiated the peace deal with the Taliban, condemned the attack on the National Directorate of Security (NDS) office in Samangan province on Monday, saying the next phase of implementation under the agreement, the United States approach will remain conditions based.

"As we look to the next phase of implementation under the Agreement, our approach will remain conditions based. We will press for completion of prisoner releases, reduction of violence, complete delivery on CT [counterterrorism] commitments & start of & progress in intra-Afghan negotiations," he said.

He pointed out: "We have reached Day 135, a key milestone in implementation of the U.S.-Taliban Agreement. The U.S. has worked hard to carry out the 1st phase of its commitments under the Agreement, including to reduce forces & depart five bases. NATO troops have come down in proportional numbers."

He said that there had been major progress, albeit slow, on prisoner releases, adding that the Taliban and the Afghan government negotiating teams had made progress on logistics for intra-Afghan talks.

"No American has lost his/her life in Afghanistan to Taliban violence. Regional relations have improved," he added.

Condemning Monday's attack on the NDS office, he said that the use of major explosives to detonate a vehicle in a provincial capital was unacceptable and would strengthen those who opposed peace and played into the hands of spoilers.

"All sides must reduce violence," he said. He added that violence had been high, especially in recent days and weeks. "Afghans continue to die in large numbers for no reason", he said, adding that the Taliban's attack in a provincial capital contradicted their commitment to reducing violence until a permanent ceasefire was reached in intra-Afghan talks.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020