US envoy Khalilzad thanks Pakistan for efforts supporting Afghan peace process

GEO NEWS

Saturday Apr 06, 2019

US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad appreciates Pakistan for re-affirming that "Afghans alone" will determine their future. — Geo News FILE

ISLAMABAD: US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad on Saturday thanked Pakistan for its efforts to support the ongoing Afghan peace process.

The US envoy said so while wrapping up his two-day visit to Islamabad Saturday evening. He took to Twitter appreciating Pakistan for re-affirming that "Afghans alone" would determine their future.

Khalilzad further said that there was always more work to be done in this regard.

A day earlier, Pakistan and United States held delegation-level talks at the Foreign Office in Islamabad, and discussed progress on the Afghan peace process.

The Pakistani delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua while the American delegation was headed by Khalilzad.

Followed by delegation-level talks, the US envoy also separately met with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and other civil military officials.

According to the US State Department, Khalilzad's visit was aimed at consulting with the Afghan government and other stakeholders about the status of Washington's talks with the Taliban.

The trip was "part of an overall effort to facilitate a peace process that brings all Afghan parties together in inclusive intra-Afghan negotiations", the State Department had said.

Khalilzad is heading back to the region for a new round of talks, the US State Department had said, without confirming he would hold fresh talks with the Taliban but said he would stop in Qatar, the usual location for negotiations with the group.

The last negotiations between Khalilzad and the Taliban closed on March 12 in Doha and appeared to make headway.

The emphasis on negotiations among Afghans comes as the Taliban refuse to sit down for talks with the internationally recognized government of President Ashraf Ghani, despite US appeals.

An outline of a deal is expected to see the United States withdrawing from Afghanistan in return for the Taliban promising not to let the country be used by foreign extremists — the reason for the US attack following the 9/11 attacks.

President Donald Trump has voiced impatience with continuing America's longest war and late last year ordered the withdrawal of half the 14,000-strong US troop contingent.

Khalilzad will visit United Kingdom, Belgium, Uzbekistan, Jordan and Qatar during his current trip which runs from March 25 to April 10.