'Unprecedented Opportunity' For Peace In Afghanistan, Says US Commander

General John Nicholson called the response to the ceasefire overwhelming (Picture: US Department of Defense).

The commander of NATO’s Resolute Support mission and US forces in Afghanistan has said he is increasingly optimistic about the prospects of peace in Afghanistan.

Speaking from Afghanistan via video link to reporters in Washington, General John Nicholson said, "We have an unprecedented opportunity, a window of opportunity, for peace right now."

He pointed in particular to the ceasefire with the Taliban in June – the first in the country for many years. General Nicholson said: "Despite the tough fight, we're seeing the process towards reconciliation and a peace that we have never seen before.

"The response to the ceasefire was frankly overwhelming.

"For the first time in 17 years, the Afghan people, the Afghan security forces and the Taliban all celebrated Eid al-Fitr together in peace."

General Nicholson’s remarks came just hours after rockets were fired at the Presidential Palace in Kabul.

The Taliban denied involvement and responsibility for the attack was later claimed by an affiliate of the Islamic State.

President Ashraf Ghani made an offer earlier this week of a conditional ceasefire with the Taliban.

The US has meanwhile rejected an invitation by Russia to peace talks in Moscow on the grounds that they will be “unlikely to yield any progress”.

Last week, a top US commander in Afghanistan told Forces News he thinks allied combat troops left Helmand Province "too soon":