United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad has reiterated that peace in Afghanistan is vital to the long-term stability of Pakistan and the wider region. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad stated this at the conclusion of his visit to Pakistan since being named as Special Representative by Secretary of State Pompeo, according to a statement issued by the US Embassy here on Wednesday.
During his stay in Pakistan, Special Representative Khalilzad met with key officials in the government of Pakistan, it stated, adding that he consulted with Pakistani leaders on how best to achieve a durable political settlement in Afghanistan.
According to the diplomatic sources, the special US envoy during his talks with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and other senior civil and military officials sought Pakistan's help in bringing the Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table.
The sources further said that Pakistan assured its full cooperation and facilitation of the Afghan-owned and Afghan-led reconciliation process, but insisted that it should have to be a shared responsibility of all the countries concerned to use their influence to persuade Taliban to renounce insurgency and join the peace process.
Heather Nauert, spokesperson for the US Department of State, told her weekly media briefing in Washington on Tuesday that Ambassador Zalmay is leading an interagency delegation to Afghanistan, Pakistan, the UAE, Qatar, and also to Saudi Arabia.
"His [Khalilzad] mission there is to coordinate our US efforts to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table. This is still Afghan-led, Afghan-owned. Our policy has not changed in any way," she said, adding that the US will be working in close coordination with the Afghan government.