WASHINGTON: The US State Department is calling the first-ever official talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban “a step in the right direction.”

At news briefing in Washington, a State Department spokesperson, Mark C. Toner, also called Pakistan “an important partner,” which helped arrange Tuesday’s meeting in Murree.

“Pakistan has also been involved in these, and we certainly appreciate its efforts and involvement in this as well. It’s an important — obviously important partner,” he said.

The White House had said earlier that both the United States and Afghanistan “acknowledge and appreciate Pakistan’s important efforts … in advancing prospects for a credible peace” in the region.

The United States and China also participated in these talks as observers.

“We believe an Afghan-led and an Afghan-owned peace effort and reconciliation process is really the best and surest way to end the violence and ensure lasting stability in Afghanistan and the region,” said Mr Toner explaining why Washington supported these talks.

“We strongly support the Afghan government’s efforts and prioritisation of peace and reconciliation,” he added.

Asked what did the United States expects from these talks, Mr Toner said: “An end to the violence, ongoing violence, is obviously a priority in any situation but certainly in this case.”

He reminded the armed opposition groups that took part in these talks that the United States wanted to “see as part of any outcome a renouncement of violence.”

The US official also urged them to “break any associations with international terrorism,” and also to accept the Afghan constitution, including its protections for women and minorities.

“So those are the outcomes we’ve long said we wanted to see. But in general, this is a positive step, a step in the right direction – these peace talks,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2015

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