UN envoy urges pressing need for end to violence

KABUL (Pajhwok): The UN’s top diplomat in Afghanistan on Monday highlighted the pressing need for an end to violence in the country. UN Secretary-General Special Representative Deborah Lyons underlined a political settlement meeting aspirations of all Afghans, including women.

At a meeting here, she discussed with President Ashraf Ghani the upcoming Istanbul Summit, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said. Lyons also met High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) Chairman Abdullah Abdullah to take stock of latest efforts to end the conflict.

Efforts by Afghan leaders to forge a common vision and the Istanbul conference also came up for discussion, according to a statement from the UN mission. Meanwhile, Abdullah’s office confirmed the meeting, saying the two sides conferred on recent developments in the peace process, preparations for the Istanbul summit and the government’s peace strategy.