CEO of the National Unity Government (NUG) on Monday at the Council of Ministers’ meeting welcomed the US’s efforts to help find a solution to the war and achieve sustainable peace.
Abdullah believes that “serious and effective work has started over the peace process and welcomed the US’s focus on peace,” adding that “now the opportunity has been created for the negotiation.”
He asked the Taliban to use this opportunity and join peace process.
“Last night (Sunday) with President Ashraf Ghani, his Vice President (Sarwar Danish) and other government officials met Zalmay Khalilzad, who has a mission and has been appointed as the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation. We welcome the US’s focus on the peace process and peace is the wish of all Afghans,” Abdullah said.
“The peace process has the support of all the people and the international community,” he said.
According to Abdullah, “we hope that the opposite side (Taliban) also uses this opportunity and we hope to reach peace which is the wish of all Afghans.”
Khalilzad arrived in Kabul on Sunday as part of a 10-day journey to Kabul, Islamabad, Doha, United Arab Emirates and Riyadh.
He told TOLOnews after arriving in Kabul that he has come to Afghanistan to break the stalemate in the war and to bring peace to the war-torn country. He did not give details about his plans, but he has solid knowledge and understanding of the situation in the country and in the challenges facing the peace process.
“I will cooperate with Afghan officials and other influential Afghans to reach a peace that ends the 40-year war in Afghanistan. We in cooperation want to make a peaceful Afghanistan where all tribes see themselves included, have the right to choose and will try to achieve a result that should deserve the sacrifices made during the years,” Khalilzad said.
“It is good that Khalilzad has been involved in Afghanistan issues in the past 40 years. He would have more success than others – as a person whose opinions have been heard while the US have been making strategies,” Nasrullah Stanikzai, a university lecturer said.
Khalilzad said he will use all his abilities and regional and international relationships to break the stalemate regarding the war and bring peace, adding that the achievements in the past years will be preserved in the peace process and all Afghans will be included in the process.
“I will use my experiences in international issues, the lessons learned, my relationships in the region and world and anything that God has given me for reaching peace in Afghanistan,” he added.
He went on to say the memories of victims of war will be preserved in the peace process, adding that it is his wish that Afghan children go to school without worrying about war and gunfire.
“This delegation has come to make a report about the situation and Khalilzad will deliver his report to the US State Department and the State Department will make its politics on Afghanistan and region based on this report,” Rahmatullah Bezhanpoor, a political activist said.
Before this, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that there was a negative view in Pakistani media against Khalilzad, adding that he should be cautious to Pakistan.
