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Pentagon Warns Taliban on Failure to Meet Commitments on Violence, Terrorism

Reuters

   WASHINGTON - The Biden administration believes it is hard to see a way
   forward for a negotiated settlement with the Taliban unless the
   militant group meets its commitments under a 2020 deal, although
   Washington remains committed to the effort, the Pentagon said Thursday.

   Killings of civilians in Afghanistan's conflict rose to more than 2,900
   last year, the country's human rights commission has said, despite
   stepped-up diplomacy to end the war, including peace talks taking place
   in Qatar.

   The deaths are part of a wider increase in violence that threatens a
   delicate peace process, undermining international calls for a
   cease-fire as the Afghan government takes part in peace negotiations
   with the Taliban.

   "Without them meeting their commitments to renounce terrorism and to
   stop the violent attacks on the Afghan National Security Forces ...
   it's very hard to see a specific way forward for the negotiated
   settlement, but we're still committed to that," Pentagon spokesman John
   Kirby told reporters.

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