*ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has given a straight forward message to the **USSpecial Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad.*

*Khalilzad met Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and other officials inIslamabad on Tuesday.*

Ambassador Khalilzad reiterated President Trump’s desire to seek Pakistan’scooperation for peace and stability in Afghanistan, the Foreign Office said.

Foreign Minister Qureshi told Khalizad that Pakistan will support USefforts for a “negotiated settlement” in Afghanistan.

Khalilzad’s visit to Pakistan is part of the Trump administration’sstrategy to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table with the Afghangovernment.

On December 3, PM Imran Khan received a letter from President Trump,requesting Pakistan’s assistance in persuading the Afghan Taliban tonegotiate a peaceful settlement to the Afghan conflict.