A meeting between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s negotiating team and the Taliban was held Wednesday night where both sides agreed to find ways to resolve the contentious issues.

Afghan National Army Commandos and Special Forces from the National Directorate of Security (NDS) launched a major military operation on Monday night, with the help of air support, to bring the Helmand situation under control, officials said Tuesday.

Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq and US special envoy for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad held a virtual conference on Tuesday to discuss issues around the Afghan peace process.

Former president Hamid Karzai has expressed concern over the rise in violence in the country and “strongly condemns the ongoing war on Afghans.”

As calls mount for a ceasefire – or at least a reduction in violence – in Afghanistan, the Taliban has stated the talks, currently underway in Doha, have not yet reached the stage where the issue of a truce can be discussed.