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<p>Talks between the US Government and the Taliban are a positive step towards an
Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process. Resolution of the conflict will require
negotiations between Afghans, including the National Unity Government and the Taliban.
We continue to make clear the importance of the involvement of civil society and of
women and minorities in the process to shape Afghanistan's future.</p><p>Afghanistan
is a focus country in the UK's National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security and
a priority country in our efforts to promote women's meaningful inclusion in peace
processes. We encourage the Afghanistan Government to bring women into discussions
on peace and to ensure the participation of Afghan women in all levels of decision-making,
from the local level to the negotiation table. The UK funds programmes in support
of this, including a pilot on local approaches to peace, with an emphasis on women,
across four districts and two provinces. We also support the "Open Jirga"
television programme which provides a platform for women's representation in politics,
including on the critical issue of peace.</p>
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