Taliban killing too many Afghans in the countryside, says US State Department

"The U.S.-Taliban agreement and the U.S.-Afghanistan joint declaration signed last week identified March 10 as the start of intra-Afghan negotiations.  While preparations for intra-Afghan negotiations are underway, the Presidential electoral crisis in Afghanistan has delayed the naming of a national negotiating team," Morgan Ortagus, a State Department spokesperson, said in a statement.

"President Ghani has told us he is consulting with Dr. Abdullah and other Afghan leaders and will announce an inclusive team in the coming few days," she said.

"Other challenges remain.  The current high level of violence by the Taliban is unacceptable.  We acknowledge the Taliban have taken steps to stop attacks against the Coalition and in cities.  But they are killing too many Afghans in the countryside.  This must change.  Violence at these levels risks drawing both sides into a vicious cycle, serves no one, and undermines peace," she said.

On Feb. 29, Taliban's political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and U.S. Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad signed the peace deal in Doha, Qatar.

Under the accord, the United States and NATO will completely pull out their troops from Afghanistan in 14 months, while the Taliban would start an intra-Afghan dialogue.