PDAS Wells attended the International Contact Group for Afghanistan (ICG) meeting yesterday to discuss coordinating the international effort for peace and security in #Afghanistan. Read the key points from the ICG’s statement in this thread of tweets. (1/8)

ICG members commended Gov of #Afghanistan under the leadership of @ashrafghani and @afgexecutive for its courageous initiative of a temporary ceasefire with the Taliban on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr and the offer to extend the duration of this ceasefire. (2/8)

This cessation of hostilities during the Eid al-Fitr holiday has shown that the overwhelming majority of the #Afghan people want peace and that violence can be effectively stopped. (3/8)

ICG members urged the Afghan Taliban to respond to the call for peace from the #Afghan people and to extend their previously announced partial ceasefire, reciprocating the Government’s ceasefire in full. (4/8)

They also urged the Afghan Taliban to engage in direct peace talks with the Gov of #Afghanistan without any delay, preconditions and without the threat of violence. (5/8)

ICG members reiterated the importance of an inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process for the long-term prosperity and stability of #Afghanistan. (6/8)

They reaffirmed their commitment to support and respect any peace agreement that ends violence, cuts ties to transnational terrorism, and protects the universal human rights of all Afghan citizens especially women. (7/8)

ICG members also expressed hope and full support to the conduct of timely, transparent, free and fair parliamentary and district council elections as a foundation of stability and peace in #Afghanistan. (8/8)