Washington, 22 October 1996 (RFE/RL) -- The United States yesterday urged the various factions in Afghanistan to agree to a ceasefire and begin talks on forming a reconciliation government.
State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns said the United States believes that the conflict "cannot be resolved on the battle field."
Burns stressed that the United States does not side with any particular faction in Afghanistan.
"We are neutral," he said. "We are calling upon all of them in our contacts with them to stop the fighting."