Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Thursday that the establishment of peace in Afghanistan is essential for peace in Pakistan and the entire region.

The third meeting of the EU-Afghanistan Special Working Group on Human Rights, Good Governance and Migration was held on Wednesday virtually in which parties involved expressed grave concern about the continuing high level of violence, and condemned the increasing number of targeted killings of media workers, civil society activists and law enforcement officials.

The German cabinet in Berlin is expected to give the green light on Wednesday for an extension of Germany’s military mission in Afghanistan until January 31, 2022, German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

The Taliban has ordered its fighters not to include foreign militants in their ranks, nor shelter them, and stated if fighters fail to adhere to the order they face dismissal.

Afghan Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on Wednesday that Taliban violence has increased by 10 percent in the past four months, adding that Afghan security forces are ready for both peace or war in the country.

In a meeting with a number of Wolesi Jirga MPs, President Ashraf Ghani said on Wednesday that now more than ever, the grounds for a free and just peace have been laid.

The third meeting of the EU-Afghanistan Special Working Group on Human Rights, Good Governance and Migration was held on Wednesday virtually in which parties involved expressed grave concern about the continuing high level of violence, and condemned the increasing number of targeted killings of media workers, civil society activists and law enforcement officials.

There has been an increase in civilians killed and injured in Afghanistan following the start of peace talks in September, UNAMA said Tuesday. According to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan’s (UNAMA) latest report, despite the rise in casualties since September the overall numbers for 2020 were down due to lower civilian casualty rates prior to the start of talks.

After more than a month of delays, a sharp rise in violence and continued discussions on the future of foreign troops in Afghanistan the stalled peace talks between the Afghan Republic’s team and the Taliban resumed on Monday in Qatar.

At least nine pro-government forces were killed in a clash with the Taliban militants in eastern Logar province, sources said.