US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad, who met with Afghan media in Kabul late on Monday, said there is a “moment of opportunity for peace” and that he hopes Afghans will deal with the opportunity “urgently and positively”.
Khalilzad, who held talks with Taliban representatives in Qatar last week, for six days, said they made progress on vital issues and agreed “to agreements in principle on a couple of very important issues”.
“I believe for the first time I can say that we have made significant progress,” Khalilzad said but reiterated that “there is a lot more work to be done before we can say we have succeeded in our efforts”.
“This is a moment of opportunity, and I hope Afghans seize this opportunity to put political differences aside and deal with this moment positively and urgently,” Khalilzad said.
“Seize the opportunity. We have the opportunity to avoid future tragedies, to bring the 40 years of war to an end, to a good end, and I urge everyone to rise to the occasion. I am hopeful that they will.”
Khalilzad said he encouraged the Taliban to engage in direct talks with the Afghan government by reiterating that “it is our policy to get to intra-Afghan talks”.
He said he has conveyed the same message to the Afghan government.
The US envoy said “Afghans need to find a solution to this stalemate through intra-Afghan dialogue.
“The key for finding the solutions for Afghan problems is at the hands of Afghans now,” Khalilzad said.
Meanwhile, Khalilzad rejected the “narrative” which says Afghans are not included in the talks by saying that “the Afghan voice is there”.
Khalilzad said that Afghan security and stability is “a big concern” for the US.
“We are working together to get to a comprehensive ceasefire. We are working with the Afghan government, with international partners, to find implementing mechanisms to reach these goals,” he said.
Reports indicate that there have been talks about establishment of an interim government. However, Khalilzad said that the issue has not been discussed with the Taliban.
“I did not discuss an interim government with the Taliban,” Khalilzad mentioned.
According to Khalilzad, US is in hurry for achieving peace in Afghanistan “for the sake of Afghans”.
“We are in a hurry for the sake of the Afghan people to end the violence as soon as we can. We cannot leave the situation in a state of uncertainty. We need to complete the process,” he concluded.
In an apparent response to Khalilzad, former spy chief and president Ghani’s running mate for 2019 presidential election Amrullah Saleh said that the key for peace in Afghanistan has always been hostage by Pakistani military establishment in GHQ Rawalpindi.
“The key for peace is in Kabul” is a shallow evaluation – of the peace process, Saleh stated.
