WASHINGTON - After two rounds of talks, the United States on Tuesday acknowledged challenges in the Afghan-led reconciliation process with the Taliban.

“We’ve been very pragmatic, and I think clear-eyed about the challenges, which still remain in trying to get at an Afghan-led reconciliation process,” the State Department spokesman said.

John Kirby told reporters at his daily news conference that no one was more mindful of the challenges with respect to the renewed peace drive than the United States, a member the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG).

Following two meetings of the group in Islamabad and Kabul in a week, the spokesman said President AshrafGhani and his Chief Executive Officer Dr. AdullahAbdullah were also aware of those challenges.

“But we applaud the continued efforts that they have put in to get it going. And as we’ve said before, we stand willing to support that process as appropriate, but it must be Afghan-led. That’s the only way this is going to be successful,” Kirby said in response to a question. (Pajhwok)