Khalilzad arrives to hold consultations on Afghan peace process

United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad arrived here on Monday to hold consultations with civil and military leadership for possible revival of Afghan peace process.

Diplomatic sources told Business Recorder that Khalilzad arrived here from Kabul where he had exchanged views with the Afghan leadership. They said the US special envoy was also expected to meet Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and other senior officials to hold further consultations on issues of mutual interests and regional situation with focus on the stalled Afghan peace process.

The visit comes in the backdrop of the second round of four-party consultations process, involving Pakistan, the United States, Russia and China, held in Moscow on October 25, 2019 in which participants discussed ways to support the Afghan people's desire for a lasting peace, respect of the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Afghanistan.

During the Moscow consultation, the countries including Russia, China and Pakistan expressed their support for the earliest resumption of negotiation process and reaching an agreement between the United States and the Taliban, which will pave the way for launching infra-Afghan talks.

In order to create an environment conducive for negotiations, they urged all sides to immediately reduce violence and stated their expectations that all sides would observe a ceasefire for the duration of intra-Afghan negotiations to enable participants to reach agreement on a political roadmap for Afghanistan's future.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019