KABUL, Afghanistan

The US’ special envoy on Saturday backed NATO’s call for a humanitarian cease-fire in Afghanistan to help the country deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and move towards lasting peace.

US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad welcomed the NATO statement “focused on key next steps … necessary for peace and stability in Afghanistan.”

“They [NATO] reiterated the need for a humanitarian ceasefire to help manage COVID-19 outbreaks, urged the Taliban to reduce violence, called on the Afghan govt to end the political crisis, and said all sides should move more quickly on prisoner releases,” he said in