Zalmai Khalilzad, the US special envoy for Afghan peace, on Monday shared with the Afghan government leadership details of the draft peace agreement he has been discussing with the Taliban for the last nine months.
A spokesperson to Afghan president, Sediq Seddiqi, said details of the agreement were shared with Afghan leaders on Monday noon during a meeting at the Presidential Palace. The US special envoy arrived in Kabul late on Sunday after he wrapped up his ninth round of talks with Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar to end the 18-year-long war, the longest in US history.
Speaking to a presser in Kabul, Seddiqi said all the details of the potential deal had been shared with Afghan government, but refused to elaborate on the details. Despite being questioned several times, he also avoided to explicitly say whether or not the document which is going to be singed between US and Taliban was handed over to Afghan side. Rumors were going round on social media on Monday that Khalilzad only briefed the government leadership on the deal and showed them the document, but did not give them any copy of the agreement agreed upon by US and Taliban.
Siddiqi said President Ghani will thoroughly review the details and will share his reservations with Khalilzad, stressing that the government’s job at this stage of the process is to protect Afghanistan’s national interest.
“The government will review and discuss the details in light of national interests of Afghanistan and the quest of Afghan people for peace. Peace is a priority of Afghan government,” he said.
He said the consultative Loya Jirga drew the roadmap and limits for peace in Afghanistan, and Afghan government believes that efforts for peace can only be successful if Taliban enter into direct talks with Afghan government.
Khalilzad also met with former president Hamid Karzai and some influential figures close to him.
Karzai’s office in statement said that Khalilzad shared with them details of his negotiation with Taliban.
