(Last Updated On: February 5, 2021) President Ashraf Ghani spoke with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Friday evening and discussed bilateral relations and recent developments in the peace process, the Presidential Palace (ARG) said. The US defense secretary said the Biden administration supports enduring peace, which is beneficial to all Afghans, and a permanent ceasefire, according to ARG. The statement indicated that Ghani and the US defense secretary expressed their concerns over the sharp increase in violence and targeted killings. This comes on the heels of a briefing by the International Crisis Group, titled “Afghanistan: Give Peace Talks a Chance”. According to the group, the new US administration needs more time to set its policy course on Afghanistan and review the US-Taliban agreement signed a year ago; and assess whether the Taliban has complied with commitments it made, which include breaking all ties with terrorist organizations.