Islamabad (Staff Report) US Special Representative for Afghanistan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad arrived in Islamabad on Thursday to hold delegation-level talks regarding Afghan peace process.
According to Foreign Office (FO) Spokesman Dr Muhammad Faisal, Khalilzad held a meeting with Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua.
Dr Faisal tweeted that during today’s meeting, the US envoy discussed progress on Afghan peace process and reviewed developments after the Abu Dhabi rounds of talks.
US Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad @US4AfghanPeace holding delegation level talks with Foreign Secretary, Tehmina Janjua at MoFA today.
— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) January 17, 2019
The two sides reviewed developments post Abu Dhabi, in order to take the Afghan peace process forward.@statedeptspox#Pakforpeace pic.twitter.com/2bmFRS8Hiy
The US envoy was scheduled to arrive in the federal capital on Tuesday as part of his four-day tour. However, the visit was rescheduled after he was said to be engaged in meetings in Kabul.
He will hold talks regarding the Afghan peace process and talks with the Taliban and the US Army’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The envoy, who met Taliban representatives last month in Abu Dhabi, travelled to Afghanistan as well as China and India as part of the four-nation trip which ends January 21.
Zalmay Khalilzad's visit comes after US President Donald Trump signalled he would bring home half of the 14,000 US troops in Afghanistan as he grows increasingly impatient over America´s longest-ever war.
Meanwhile, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called Prime Minister Imran Khan to discuss the recent efforts for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.
The Afghan president expressed his gratitude for Pakistan's sincere facilitation of these efforts, initiated by the US Special Representative for Peace and Reconciliation in Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad.
Prime Minister Imran Khan assured President Ghani that Pakistan was making sincere efforts for a negotiated settlement of the conflict in Afghanistan through an inclusive peace process as part of shared responsibility.
Both leaders invited each other to visit their respective countries. They also agreed to remain engaged and create an environment for resolving all outstanding issues.
