US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad leaves Islamabad after two-day visit

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – US Special Representative on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad left Islamabad after a two-day visit on Tuesday. Sources said that the US envoy had held meetings with Prime Minister Imran Khan as civil and military authorities. During the meetings, they discussed the Afghan peace process. Zalmay Khalilzad informed the authorities about the four-country Afghan Peace Conference held in Moscow, Russia. He also briefed the meeting held in Afghan reconciliation process held in China. Both sides agreed to expedite the Afghan peace process and resolved to continue the all-out cooperation for the success of the Afghan peace process. Earlier on Monday night, US Special Representative on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad met Prime Minister Imran Khan. They discussed the situation in the region and Afghanistan. “Pakistan is a supporter of the Afghan peace process,” the prime minister said. Imran Khan said that problems in the Afghan peace process should be removed so that a political solution to Afghanistan should be found. “We started sincere efforts for the Afghan peace process last year. All parties should take practical steps to reduce violence in Afghanistan,” he said. The prime minister stressed the need to end the negative narrative. “Progress and stability in Afghanistan is in the interests of Pakistan,” he said. Earlier, Khalilzad met President Ghani and discussed Kabul’s stance on peace. His visit comes amid speculation the US is attempting to restart the effort to end America’s longest war, after President Donald Trump last month declared talks “dead.” Khalilzad’s arrival in the Afghan capital coincided with the announcement that preliminary results from recent presidential elections will be delayed for nearly a month, a lengthy postponement likely to stoke political uncertainty and fraud allegations. “Khalilzad met with the president and briefed him about his recent activities,” Ghani’s spokesman Sediq Seddiqi said. “His viewpoints and the stance of the Afghan government for peace were discussed.”