Khalilzad holds talks with Qureshi, COAS

The top Untied States negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad Friday held talks with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa amid a 'brief pause' after recent resumption of peace process between the US and Taliban following the latest violence in Afghanistan.

Zalmay Khalilzad, the US Special Representative on Afghanistan's Reconciliation, arrived here on Friday to discuss the situation with civil and military leadership of Pakistan following the latest round of talks in Doha, which resumed after deadlock of almost three months.

According to a statement of the Foreign Office, the US special envoy called on Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qurershi and exchanged views on the Afghan peace process and the overall situation of the region.

"We hope that the US-Taliban dialogue process resumes forthwith. Pakistan, from day one, is of the opinion that there is no military solution of the Afghan conflict," the Foreign Office quoted Qureshi as having told Khalilzad.

Qureshi said Pakistan believes that President Trump's decision to resume dialogue with the Taliban was a positive development, to help establish peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region. The foreign minister underscored the importance of early and successful conclusion of the US-Taliban peace deal and start of intra-Afghan negotiations.

The foreign minister reiterated the importance of reduction in violence and all parties fulfilling their respective commitments. He also underlined the need to be mindful of the role and activities of spoilers who do not wish peace to return in the region.

The foreign minister said that the vision of economic prosperity and connectivity cannot be realized without a stable and prosperous Afghanistan. The foreign minister reiterated that as a shared responsibility, Pakistan will continue extending its facilitation and sincere efforts for the restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan. "Regional peace is linked to the peace and stability in Afghanistan," Qureshi further started.

Khalilzad, according to the Foreign Office statement, apprised the foreign minister of the recent delegation level talks between the US and the Taliban in Doha. The special representative also appreciated Pakistan's continued cooperation and reconciliatory role of Pakistan.

According to Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor, the US special representative also called on Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

"Zalmay Khalilzad, US Special Representative] for Afghanistan Reconciliation called on CoAS at GHQ. US Ambassador in Pakistan Paul W Jones was also present. Regional security situation with particular reference to ongoing Afghanistan reconciliation process was discussed," the DG ISPR stated in a tweet.

Earlier through a series of tweets, Khalilzad said that he had conveyed his 'outrage' about the recent attack in Bagram, saying that they are taking a 'brief pause' in the talks so that the Taliban may consult their leadership on reduction of violence.

"When I met the Taliban today, I expressed outrage about yesterday's attack on Bagram, which recklessly killed two and wounded dozens of civilians. Taliban must show they are willing & able to respond to Afghan desire for peace... We're taking a brief pause for them to consult their leadership on this essential," Khalilzad tweeted.