[ti:US Urges Taliban to Restart Peace Talks, End Military Campaign] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.04]An American diplomat has warned the Taliban [00:04.96]that its military campaign to control Afghanistan [00:10.28]will not result in a government that is recognized internationally. [00:17.88]The diplomat, Zalmay Khalilzad, gave the warning Tuesday [00:24.16]to Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar. [00:29.64]The Taliban has a political office in Doha. [00:35.40]Khalilzad has led U.S. peace efforts [00:39.52]related to Afghanistan for several years. [00:44.36]He and others hope to persuade Taliban leaders [00:49.40]to return to peace talks with the Afghan government. [00:55.36]But the Taliban has intensified military efforts in recent weeks [01:01.88]to take control of wide areas of the country. [01:07.36]The group’s new campaign followed the U.S. decision last month [01:13.64]to end its military activities in Afghanistan by the end of August. [01:21.48]Most recently, Taliban fighters captured six out of 34 [01:27.88]provincial capitals in less than one week. [01:32.24]They included Kunduz -- one of the country’s [01:36.80]largest cities -- in Kunduz province. [01:42.08]The Taliban is now battling the Western-backed Afghan government [01:47.96]for control of several other provinces in the south. [01:53.48]On Tuesday, Taliban forces entered Farah [01:57.80]and were seen in front of the provincial governor’s office. [02:03.68]The fighting has driven thousands of people to Kabul, [02:08.48]where many are living in open areas in the city. [02:13.88]The latest Taliban gains have led to new efforts [02:18.40]to restart peace talks aimed at ending the fighting. [02:23.80]The goal is to begin a process [02:27.20]to create an agreement for a power-sharing government. [02:32.12]The Taliban has so far refused [02:35.72]to return to peace negotiations. [02:39.40]The new pressure from Khalilzad [02:43.08]follows condemnation of the Taliban’s moves [02:47.24]by the international community. [02:49.88]The United Nations has also warned the Taliban [02:55.04]that any government that takes power by force [02:59.00]will not be recognized. [03:02.92]The U.S. State Department said in a statement [03:06.76]Khalilzad's mission in Qatar is meant to “help formulate [03:12.68]a joint international response” to the current situation. [03:18.92]The diplomat plans to “press the Taliban to stop their military offensive [03:26.12]and to negotiate a political settlement,” the statement said. [03:32.56]The Taliban’s military chief released an audio message to his fighter [03:38.68]s on Tuesday, The Associated Press reported. [03:44.24]The message ordered the fighters not to harm Afghan forces [03:49.68]or government officials in territories they seize. [03:54.56]The five-minute message was recorded by Mohammad Yaqoob, [04:00.48]son of the late Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar. [04:06.84]It instructed the rebels to stay out of empty homes [04:11.56]belonging to government officials, to leave marketplaces open [04:17.16]and to protect places of business, including banks. [04:22.92]It remains unclear, however, whether Taliban fighters would obey the orders. [04:30.28]Some civilians who have fled Taliban forces [04:35.08]have said they had put repressive restrictions on women [04:39.36]and burned down schools. [04:42.48]The office of the U.N. human rights chief [04:46.20]said it has received reports of executions, [04:50.24]revenge killings and military use and destruction of homes, [04:56.04]schools and medical centers. [04:59.28]Many civilians have been killed or injured in the fighting. [05:05.16]The U.N. human rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, [05:09.68]said Tuesday her office had counted at least 183 deaths [05:16.48]and hundreds of injured among civilians in several cities in recent weeks. [05:23.88]I’m Bryan Lynn. [05:26.32]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM