US top envoy Zalmay Khalilzad arriving in Islamabad on a key mission

*WASHINGTON – **US top envoy Zalmay Khalilzad is arriving in Islamabad andKabul on a key mission of Afghanistan endgame.*

*Zalmay Khalil­zad, the US envoy for Afghanistan, began a fresh tour thatwill take him to Islamabad and Kabul, besides other capitals in the region,for a new round of talks with the Taliban, the State Department said onTuesday.*

Mr Khalilzad will also visit Belgium, Britain, Jordan and Uzbekistan as heseeks global support for a peace deal. The trip is scheduled to run throughApril 10.

The envoy met representatives from China, Russia and the European Unionlast week.

The State Department did not confirm Mr Khalilzad would hold fresh talkswith the Taliban, but said he would stop in Qatar, the usual location fornegotiations with the militants.

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Khalilzad’s trip is “part of an overall effort to facilitate a peaceprocess that brings all Afghan parties together in inclusive intra-Afghannegotiations”, the State Department said.

The emphasis on negotiations among Afghans comes as the Taliban refuse tohold talks with the internationally recognised government of Pre­sidentAshraf Ghani, despite US appeals.