Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on their proposal to facilitate the restart of peace talks between the Afghanistan Government and the Taliban.

We are, as ever, in close communication with the US, the Afghan government, and our other allies and partners on a range of issues, including making progress on peace. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary discussed Afghanistan with his US, German and French counterparts on 23 March. The UK Government welcomes and supports US-led efforts to advance Afghan peace talks towards a political settlement. An inclusive, sustainable political settlement is the only way to end the conflict. We urge all sides to come together to deliver the peace that Afghans want and deserve.