The US Special Representative for Afghanistan Peace Zalmay Khalilzad will hold new talks this month with the Taliban in Qatar, the State Department said on Saturday, as momentum builds for a deal to end America’s longest war.
Khalilzad has started a new multi-nation trip to different countries over the Afghan peace talks, the statement said.
In this trip, the US Special Envoy will visit Afghanistan, Belgium, Germany, Pakistan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates from May 31 to June 16, the statement said.
In Kabul, Khalilzad will meet Afghan officials, civil society activists, women rights activists and other layers of the society to encourage them play their part in the ongoing peace process and pushing the process toward an intra-Afghan dialogue, the statement says.
In Doha, again Khalilzad will meet with the Taliban to resume the previous talks, the statement said.
Khalilzad will “encourage all parties to work towards intra-Afghan negotiations that lead to a final peace settlement”, the State Department said.
Germany, another of Khalilzad’s stops, has voiced willingness to hold a meeting on peace in Afghanistan.
He will start his trip in Pakistan, which has used its contacts to facilitate the talks with the Taliban.
