US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad has started another multi-nation trip on Afghan peace starting from January 8 – 21. The US Department of State says Khalilzad will visit India, China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan during this trip.
“Special Representative Khalilzad will meet with Afghan government officials and other interested parties to support and facilitate an inclusive peace process in Afghanistan, empowering the Afghan people to chart a shared course for their nation’s future,” the statement said.
The statement says Khalilzad continues to coordinate his efforts with President Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah, and other Afghan stakeholders to ensure an intra-Afghan peace process.
“The US goal is to promote dialogue among Afghans about how to end the conflict, and to encourage the parties to come together at the negotiating table to reach a political settlement where every Afghan citizen enjoys equal rights and responsibilities under the rule of law,” the statement said.
During his last trip in December, Special Representative Khalilzad reiterated that the only solution to the conflict is for all parties to sit together and reach an agreement on the political future of Afghanistan with mutual respect and acceptance, the US Department of State said in the statement.
His trip comes after the US President Donald Trump signaled he will pull out 7,000 US troops from Afghanistan as he grows increasingly impatient over America’s longest-ever war.
