ISLAMABAD – United States Special Representative for AfghanistanReconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad on Friday acknowledged Pakistan’s role as‘a very crucial’ for the reconciliation process with the Taliban.
Weeks after initiating direct talks with the Taliban, wherein the twoagreed on a framework of peace agreement, Trump Administration’s pointperson termed recent development as a positive change.
“We always would like Pakistan, like other countries to do more, but weappreciate what they have done so far and I have indicated and Secretary(of State), (Mike) Pompeo and the president that we want to have goodrelations with Pakistan, better relations with Pakistan,” he said inresponse to a question on the role of Islamabad in his ongoing efforts tobring peace in this war-ravaged country.
“What they (Pakistan) do on Afghanistan to facilitate peace andreconciliation, which has been a burden on the relationship, that will beremoved,” he added.
“Pakistan is an important country with which we want to have betterrelations,” he said.
“The role that Pakistan has played in terms of its relationship with theTaliban and the Haqqani network has been a burden on this (US-Pak)relationship. They say they want peace. We welcome that. We want them to,to play a positive role,” said the US diplomat who has had several roundsof talks with the the Taliban in Doha.