Top US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad extends stay in Pakistan: Sources

Top US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad extends stay in Pakistan: Sources

*ISLAMABAD - United States (US) Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has extended his stay in Pakistan.*

Diplomatic sources relayed that the date for his return has not been finalised yet. “The US Embassy in Islamabad will intimate the Foreign Office in this regard later on.”

The ambassador arrived in Islamabad on Jan 17 along with a delegation of US officials. He was scheduled to depart today.

During his stay, Khalilzad met Prime Minister Imran Khan as well as the Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and other senior officials.

“The two sides reviewed developments post Abu Dhabi, in order to take the Afghan peace process forward,” said a foreign office statement . “An Afghan Taliban delegation had a round of talks last month with US officials in Abu Dhabi.”

The statement didn’t give any further details on the talks, but media reports had said that Pakistan agreed to host the next round of talks between the Afghan Taliban and the United States in Islamabad.