Saudi Gazette report

WASHINGTON — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday to reiterate the strong and enduring US commitment to Afghanistan, the US Department of State said in a statement.

The US secretary of state and President Ghani emphasized the need to accelerate peace negotiations and achieve a political settlement that is inclusive, respects the rights of all Afghans, including women and minorities, allows the Afghan people to have a say in choosing their leaders, and prevents Afghan soil from being used to threaten the United States and its allies and partners according to the statement.

Both leaders condemned the ongoing Taliban attacks, which show little regard for human life and human rights, and deplored the loss of innocent Afghan lives and displacement of the civilian population.

Secretary Blinken and President Ghani pledged to remain in close contact going forward.

The talks over the phone between Blinken and Ghani take place at a time Afghanistan is witnessing intense fighting between government forces and the Taliban militants for the control of the country's more territories after the American troop withdrawal.