US urges new Taliban leadership to engage in peace talks

WASHINGTON: The United States of America said that the new Taliban leadership has an opportunity to engage, re-engage on peace talks and they hoped they make that choice.

US State Department deputy spokesperson Mark Toner, in a daily media briefing on Thursday said, that the strike against Taliban chief Mullah Mansour was based on both his previous actions but also his intent to carry out additional strikes not only against Afghan forces, but against US military forces on the ground in Afghanistan, and the fact that he was not playing a productive role or any role in leading us towards negotiations or a peace process – or talks, rather.

To a question, Mark Toner said, “Pakistan needs to address all groups operating on their soil – Taliban groups that are operating on their soil and their territory. We’ve urged them to do so in the past. We continue to urge them to do so and have worked with them on addressing the very real threat on their own soil.”

He said it’s an ongoing conversation that US had with the Pakistani authorities.

He urged Pakistan to cooperate with the Indian authorities to fully investigate Mumbai attacks.

“Mumbai attacks were terrible tragedy. We continue to urge the Pakistani government to cooperate with the Indian authorities to fully investigate these attacks. US wants to see justice done and we continue to urge Pakistani cooperation.”