Times of Islamabad

US top envoy Zalmay Khalilzad to visit Pakistan, China over Afghanistan peace talks

US top envoy Zalmay Khalilzad to visit Pakistan, China over Afghanistan peace talks

ISLAMABAD The United States’ special representative for Afghanistanreconciliation, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad is holding next round of talksover Afghanistan peace talks with regional allies.

He will be travelling to India, China, Afghanistan and Pakistan fromJanuary 8 to 21.

He will be meeting senior government officials in each country tofacilitate an intra-Afghan political settlement. The US wants an end to the40-year conflict in Afghanistan and is seeking support from neighbouringcountries to do so.

Khalilzad will meet Afghan government officials and other interestedparties to support and facilitate an “inclusive peace process inAfghanistan, empowering the Afghan people to chart a shared course fortheir nation’s future”.

During his last trip in December, Khalilzad urged the parties to sittogether to reach an agreement on the political future of Afghanistan.