President Ashraf Ghani met with US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad on Saturday night, the Presidential Palace said in a statement on Sunday.
According to the statement, Ghani was briefed on the envoy’s schedule over the next week, which will see him visit a number of countries in the region.
Ghani thanked Khalilzad for the work he is doing to bring about peace, and discussed issues around his second trip to the region, the statement added.
The statement said it is expected that Khalilzad will return to Kabul to give feedback to Ghani after visiting Pakistan, Qatar and the UAE.
Khalilzad was in the region last month – stopping first in Kabul before visiting four other countries and meeting with the Taliban in Qatar.
After wrapping up his trip, he returned to Kabul and briefed Afghan government on his meetings. He also called on the Afghan government and the Taliban to establish official negotiating teams.
Both sides have taken some steps in this regard.
On Saturday, the office of the Chief Executive of the National Unity Government welcomed efforts by Khalilzad to bring about peace.
One of the CEO’s spokesmen, Omid Maisam, said the only way to ensure peace in Afghanistan is to put pressure on the Taliban and on the countries supporting the group.
“I hope that the efforts by Mr. Khalilzad will continue as they are, so that we will witness tangible results,” said Maisam.
The US State Department said last week, Khalilzad, along with a delegation, will visit Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar between November 8 and 20.
This is his second trip to the region, and a third to Afghanistan after taking over the role.
