The Afghan government revealed that the Taliban had proposed a 3-month ceasefire in exchange for conditions, amid reports that the government had restored a border crossing, and in conjunction with ongoing battles in several parts, and Washington renewed its adherence to the diplomatic track and negotiations, and promised to transfer collaborators with its forces abroad.

The spokesman for the government delegation to the peace talks, Nader Naderi, said that the Taliban had proposed a three-month ceasefire, in exchange for the release of about 7,000 of its detainees in government prisons, and the removal of the names of a number of its leaders from the black list of the United Nations.

On the other hand, a government source told Al Jazeera that the Taliban's proposal for a 3-month ceasefire is an old one that the government had previously rejected.

A spokesman for the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs John Kirby told Al Jazeera that he believes that the Afghan forces have the military advantage in the country, and they are able to protect security, as they have the Air Force, Special Forces and the largest number of soldiers, adding, "It is up to them. to take advantage of these advantages.

Kirby added, "Over the years, we have seen that the Afghan forces were advancing on the ground," stressing that the nature of support for them will change, and may include financial and logistical support, "and perhaps military", by his country and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

In response to a question for Al Jazeera, a Pentagon spokesman said, "We have no desire to withdraw our diplomats from Afghanistan at the present time," explaining that the purpose of soldiers staying in Afghanistan is to protect the diplomats.

"We will continue to push for a political solution because it is the only guarantee of progress," Kirby said.

Kirby (Anatolia)

In Washington, State Department spokesman Ned Price said that Afghan negotiations in Doha and the diplomatic track are the only way to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Price described the execution by Taliban militants of government forces as a heinous and outrageous act.

This was denied by the Taliban yesterday.

The US envoy to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, stressed that the military solution did not succeed and did not succeed in forcing the Taliban to accept what Washington or the rest of the Afghan parties could accept.

During a seminar hosted by the Beirut Institute, Khalilzad spoke from the Uzbek capital Tashkent via the Internet, wondering about the feasibility of moving forward with a solution that will not work, as he put it.

Regarding the US withdrawal, Khalilzad denied that this had turned Afghanistan into a war zone, because it had not been at peace for 43 years.

He added that the withdrawal paved the way for talks taking place for the first time between the warring Afghan parties, as he described it.

In the same context, the US Embassy in Kabul published a brief statement in which it said that the parties in Afghanistan should resolve the conflict only at the negotiating table.

An official source in NATO told Al Jazeera that the alliance is committed to supporting the ongoing Afghan-led peace process, and will continue to work to enhance security and support the gains made.

The source added that the situation in Afghanistan is still difficult and involves many risks and challenges, stressing that there is no military solution to the crisis and that the future of the country is in the hands of the Afghans.

Transfer of collaborators

With regard to the file of Afghan collaborators with US forces who fear for their lives after leaving those forces, the White House announced that about 20,000 Afghans have requested visas to enter the United States.

"We do not consider moving Afghan translators to countries that are unsafe or do not treat them with respect," the White House added.

In statements to Al-Jazeera, the Pentagon spokesman said today, "We have reached the final stage of recommending Afghan collaborators to transfer them abroad."

Yesterday, the Pentagon announced a plan to transfer collaborators to other countries or to US military facilities, in preparation for granting them residence permits in the United States.

On the European side, Nabila Masrali, spokeswoman for the European Union's Foreign Affairs Coordinator, Josep Borrell, announced that the EU was "very concerned" about the security situation caused by the Taliban, blaming the movement for the violence that constitutes an obstacle to the peace process and contradicts the Doha agreement, she said.

"We are working on security measures to ensure the safety of Europeans who are in the country," she added, without elaborating.

Another aide to Borrell announced on Tuesday that "the evacuation of staff involved in European aid for development is not necessary at this stage, neither in Kabul nor anywhere else," but the decisions taken by member states may change the equation, especially after France and Germany asked their nationals to leave Afghanistan. .

Khalilzad (left) on a visit to the Uzbek capital Tashkent (Anatolia)

Ongoing battles

On the ground, a government source said that 5 civilians were killed and 12 others were injured when a mortar shell landed on their house in the eastern Laghman province.

In Ghazni (center), a source told Al-Jazeera that 8 civilians were killed and 9 others wounded, as a result of the battles between the Taliban and government forces.

To the east of the country, the city of Jalalabad witnessed an explosion that caused deaths and injuries, but the size of the victims or the nature of the explosion is not yet known, according to a security source.

On the other hand, the Taliban announced that its militants had taken control of the Arghandab district headquarters in the southern province of Kandahar, but the government denied this.

For its part, the Ministry of Defense said that 18 Taliban militants were killed in an air strike in the western province of Herat.

Local media also reported that the government and the Taliban had reached a ceasefire in the western Badghis state.

Meanwhile, Reuters news agency quoted a government official as saying that government forces have regained control of the "Chimn" border crossing with Pakistan, and the Pakistani authorities announced today the reopening of the crossing.

On the other hand, the Taliban said that they still control the town of Spin Boldock, where the crossing, which was seized by its militants last Wednesday, is located, and it is the main crossing through which most of the logistical support materials for the international forces in Afghanistan have been passing through for the past 20 years.

In another context, a security source revealed to the island that 240 prisoners, including Taliban leaders, were transferred from Kandahar prison to Kabul after attacks on the prison.