US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad met with Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, in Kabul on Monday and discussed the review of the Doha agreement, Abdullah’s office said in a statement.
“They discussed peace talks, the review of the Doha peace agreement by the new US administration, the acceleration of the peace process, the second round of talks between Afghans in Doha, reduction in violence, and ways to advance peace talks and achieve lasting peace in Afghanistan,” the statement said.
Khalilzad has resumed his trip to the region on the Afghan peace process.
The US State Department in a statement said that Khalilzad and his team will travel to Kabul, Doha, and additional regional capitals on the Afghan peace process.
The statement said that Khalilzad “will resume discussions on the way ahead with the Islamic Republic and Afghan leaders, Taliban representatives, and regional countries, whose interest are best served by the achievement of a just and durable political settlement and permanent and comprehensive ceasefire.”
This is Khalilzad’s first to Kabul and other regional countries after the US President Joe Biden took the office.
A week ago, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Abdullah and said US supports durable political settlement and permanent and comprehensive ceasefire in Afghanistan.
The US Department of State said in a statement that Blinken and Abdullah discussed the United States’ review of its strategy in Afghanistan.
“The Secretary thanked Abdullah for his vital work in support of the Afghanistan peace process, and he expressed America’s resolve to support a just and durable political settlement and permanent and comprehensive ceasefire in Afghanistan,” it said.
Abdullah’s office said that Afghanistan’s situation and the peace process were discussed in this conversation.
“Blinken reiterated US’s continued support for expediting the efforts for achieving a lasting and durable peace in Afghanistan,” it said.
Before this, Biden in an address to Munich Security Conference said that the United States will work together with its allies in Europe and that his administration is fully committed to working with NATO allies on the way forward in Afghanistan.
“My administration strongly supports the diplomatic process that is underway and to bring an end to this war (Afghan war) that is closing out 20 years,” said Biden.
Biden said he’s “determined” to re-engage with Europe as he addresses Munich Security Conference.
Biden said that the US is committed to make sure that threats are not posed against US and its allies from Afghanistan.
“We remain committed to ensuring that Afghanistan never again provides base for terrorist attacks against the United States and our partners and our interests,” he said.
Biden added that the US will not allow Daesh to reopen and regroup.
