*WASHINGTON – US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to tap ZalmayKhalilzad, an Afghan-born former US ambassador to Kabul and Iraq, as hisspecial envoy on Afghanistan, two US officials said, the latest signal tothe Taliban that the United States is serious about talks to end itslongest war.*

The decision to tap Khalilzad, a Republican foreign policy veteran, comesas US military commanders acknowledge a stalemate in the fighting andfollows a meeting last month between a US diplomat and Taliban officials toexplore possible negotiations.

The administration has not officially confirmed those talks.

The two US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they wereunsure when the announcement would be made. The White House and the StateDepartment declined to comment, and Khalilzad did not return messages leftwith his office.

The outgoing US commander of US and international troops insisted onWednesday that despite a recent wave of violence, Trump’s strategy of anopen-ended deployment of US military advisers, trainers and specialoperations forces and increased air support for Afghan forces is succeeding.

“I believe the strategy is working. … The reconciliation progress issignificant and ultimately wars end with a political settlement,” said USArmy General John Nicholson, commander of the NATO-led Resolute Supportmission.

Trump, however, has expressed frustration at the lack of progress toward aUS withdrawal after 17 years of conflict. In a policy shift during a Juneceasefire, Washington said it would “support, facilitate and participate”in any Kabul government-led peace talks with the Taliban.

The surge in Taliban attacks, including an assault last week on theprovincial capital of Ghazni that took US-backed Afghan forces four days toput down, has raised questions about their interest in negotiations.