Long way for peace in Afghanistan, says UK

LONDON: The people of Afghanistan deserve peace, but there is “still a long way to go” before the country’s government and people achieve the goal of building a more stable and prosperous nation, Britain’s minister for Asia Mark Field has said.

OnSaturday,gunmenstormed Kabul’s Intercontinental Hotel, leaving at least six people dead. The attack, claimed by the Taliban, ended after a 17-hour battle.

Field said in a statement to the UN security council: “(There) is still a long way to go before Afghanistan’s government and peopleachievetheirgoalofbuildingamorestableandprosperous country.

“(Ultimately)…the solution to long-term peace and stability lies not within the military, but in a peace process that is Afghan-led and Afghan-owned…Afghanistancontinuestofaceanumberof significantchallengesin2018, but this is also a year of real opportunity.”

Mentioning the forthcoming meeting of the Kabul Process for PeaceandSecurityCooperation, Field said it took vision, courage andleadershiptobeginaconversation with an adversary after years of violence and bloodshed.

“However, the time is now surely ripe forthat conversation. The people of Afghanistan deserve peace. So we urge President(Ashraf)Ghaniandthegovernment to use the meeting to reachouttotheinsurgentsandto try to launch a credible peace process.”