US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad arrives in Pakistan for Afghan peace process

US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad arrived on Thursday in Pakistan to hold talks regarding Afghan peace process.

According to local media reports, the US envoy will meet Pakistan's civilian and military leaders. Discussion between the US envoy and Pakistan officials will be focused on Afghan peace process, Pak-Afghan border management efforts and US-Pakistan relations.

During his stay Khalilzad will ask Pakistan to help bring Afghan Taliban to the negotiation table, which the Taliban have refused several times.

Khalilzad also traveled to Afghanistan, China and India as part of the four-nation trip which ends on January 21. A press release from the US state Department reads that this trip by the US envoy is to 'facilitate an inclusive peace process in Afghanistan.

The release further states, "The United States supports the desire of the Afghan people and the international community for a political settlement that ends the 40-year conflict and ensures Afghanistan never again serves as a platform for international terrorism".