United States hails Pakistan’s efforts for peace process in Afghanistan

The United States has said it welcomes actions Pakistan is taking to promote a negotiated solution to the war in neighbouring Afghanistan.

The acknowledgement came a day after Prime Minister Imran Khan announced Pakistan had arranged another round of US peace talks with the Afghan Taliban scheduled for Monday.

“The United States welcomes any actions by the Pakistani government to promote greater cooperation, including fostering negotiations between the Taliban, the Afghan government, and other Afghans,” a US embassy spokesperson in Kabul told Voice of America on Saturday.

US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, has met, and will continue to meet, with all interested parties, including the Taliban, to support a negotiated settlement to the conflict in Afghanistan, the spokesperson added.

Khalilzad will lead the US delegation in the talks. Since taking charge in September, the special US envoy has held two publicly known rounds of preliminary discussions with the Taliban in Qatar, where the insurgents run their so-called political office.

The Afghan Taliban said they will meet US officials in the United Arab Emirates today. A spokesman said representatives from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the UAE would also take part in the meeting.

Trump’s letter to PM Imran

Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump wrote a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan seeking Pakistan’s assistance in the Afghan peace process, aimed at catalysing an end to the 17-year invasion of Afghanistan by US troops.

Trump also sought Pakistan’s assistance in bringing the Taliban leadership to the negotiating table, it was revealed by the Pakistani premier.

The letter was followed by a visit from Khalilzad to Islamabad, during which the US envoy reiterated Trump’s desire to seek Pakistan’s cooperation for peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had assured the envoy of Pakistan’s steadfast support for a negotiated settlement.

 

About The Author