KABUL: The United States’ envoy for Afghan peace process, Zalmay Khalilzad,arrived in Kabul on Wednesday, an Afghan official said, days after USPresident Donald Trump suggested stalled talks were back on.
“Khalilzad is in Kabul and will meet with the president and other seniorAfghan officials later,” a senior Afghan official told AFP, adding that theresumption of talks for a deal with the Taliban would be on the agenda.
However, the US embassy in Kabul declined to comment.
In September, the US and the Taliban had appeared on the verge of signing adeal that would have seen Washington begin pulling thousands of troops outof Afghanistan in return for security guarantees.
It was also expected to pave the way towards direct talks between theTaliban and the government in Kabul and, ultimately, a possible peaceagreement after more than 18 years of war.
But that month Trump abruptly called the year-long effort “dead”, andwithdrew an invitation to the insurgents to meet in the US due to thekilling of an American soldier.
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During a surprise visit to an American military base in Afghanistan lastweek, Trump said the Taliban “wants to make a deal”.
But the insurgents later said it was “way too early” to speak of resumingdirect talks with Washington.
Even though talks have officially been stalled, Khalilzad has in recentweeks continued his whistle-stop tour of various nations with a stake inAfghan peace, including Pakistan.
The Taliban have until now refused to negotiate with the Afghan government,which they consider an illegitimate regime. -APP / AFP
