BERLIN, March 26 (Xinhua) -- German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) has praised a recent announcement by the Afghan government to enter peace talks with the radical Islamist Taliban group on Monday.
Von der Leyen expressed hope that there would be "much more progress in crucial political negotiations" with the Taliban who were "ready to renounce violence and respect the constitution". She made the comments during a visit to German troops stationed at the Mazar-i-Sharif base in the north of Afghanistan.
Since the Taliban were deposed from government by a U.S.-led military coalition in 2001, most provinces in Afghanistan have experienced a near-permanent state of war which has left at least 31,000 civilians dead, according to official estimates.
Von der Leyen further urged the acting government of President Aschraf Ghani to press ahead with promised political reforms. She expressed confidence that modernizing efforts in the Afghan national army, assisted by an overseas deployment of around 1,000 German troops, was finally bearing fruit.
"Step by step we are making progress," Von der Leyen said, referring to the successful build-up of the country's air force and special forces, as well as an initiative by Ghani to lower the average age of senior Afghan officers.