UN: Civilian deaths by Taliban and Afghan forces on the rise

United Nations called Tuesday for an immediate reduction of violence in Afghanistan, saying civilian deaths by both Taliban and Afghanistan’s own security forces is on increase. In a statement, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA, also expressed concern about stepped-up attacks and brutality of assaults claimed by Islamic State group.

A horrific attack last week at a maternity hospital in capital has t been claimed by any group, but United States said it bears all hallmarks of Afghanistan’s IS affiliate — targeting country’s mirity Shiites in a neighborhood of Kabul y have repeatedly attacked in past.

Taliban denied involvement in maternity hospital attack, which killed 24 people, including two infants and several new mors, calling it “vile."

U.N. report blamed Taliban for killing 208 civilians in April, while 172 civilians were killed in month by Afghan National Security and Defense Force.

“Parties have committed to finding a peaceful solution and should protect lives of all Afghans and t jeopardize people’s hope for an end to war,” said Deborah Lyons, UNAMA he and U.N. Secretary- General's Special Representative to Afghanistan.

“Intra-Afghan peace negotiations need to start as soon as possible," she said.

UN’s call for an end to violence comes as Washington’s special peace envoy, Zalmay Khalilz, began ar round of talks with Taliban to press m to start talking to newly reconciled Afghan political leership in Kabul and implement an immediate reduction in violence, said a U.S. state department statement.

Khalilz, who is architect of a U.S.-Taliban peace deal signed in February, has been trying to salv agreement and jump-start intra-Afghan negotiations between Taliban and Afghanistan's political leership.

A power-sharing agreement on Sunday between President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullaah brought to an end months of wrangling over who won a deeply controversial presidential election last year. agreement raised expectations that next, critical round of U.S.-Taliban peace deal, which calls for negotiations between Taliban and Afghanistan's political leers, can begin.

Taliban have said a permanent cease-fire would be one of first items on nda but have been critical of repeated delays in deals promised prisoner release, which is to be completed before talks can begin.

“In Doha, Ambassor Khalilz will meet with Taliban representatives to discuss implementation of U.S.-Taliban agreement and press for steps necessary to commence intra-Afghan negotiations, including a significant reduction of violence,” said U.S. State Department statement.

Khalilz will also visit Afghan capital, his first visit to Kabul since Secretary of State Mike Pompeo failed to get squabbling leers to reach an agreement during a surprise visit in March. A frustrated Pompeo cut $1 billion in U.S. aid to Afghanistan.

Following agreement Sunday, Pompeo called Ghani and bemoaned time lost to ir bickering.

“ United States remains committed to supporting desire of Afghan people and international community for a political settlement that ends 40-year conflict and ensures Afghanistan never again serves as a platform for international terrorism,” State Department statement said.

agreement provides for withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops, but only if Taliban live up to ir end to battle terrorist groups, like Islamic State affiliate against whom y have wd bitter battles.

increasingly brutal attacks by IS would seem to have given urgency to U.S. efforts to get Taliban into a coordinated battle against IS.