Trump, Ghani Discuss Need For Taliban To Reduce Violence - White House

President Donald Trump told Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on the sidelines of the Davos conference that peace talks cannot move forward without a reduction in Taliban attacks, the White House said in a readout on Wednesday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd January, 2020) President Donald Trump told Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on the sidelines of the Davos conference that peace talks cannot move forward without a reduction in Taliban attacks, the White House said in a readout on Wednesday.

"President Trump reiterated the need for a significant and lasting reduction in violence by the Taliban that would facilitate meaningful negotiations on Afghanistan's future," the readout said.

The United States has brokered separate meetings in Qatar with Afghan officials and the Taliban, with the Taliban refusing to meet directly with government officials.

Ghani is demanding a cease fire by both sides as a prerequisite for any peace agreement, while Trump is seeking to remove American troops from Afghanistan after 18 years of fighting.