The U.S. has asked Pakistan to use its influence to press the warring Taliban for the “immediate” start of intra-Afghan negotiations aimed at ending Washington’s longest war in neighboring Afghanistan.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan, visited the region this week to meet Taliban negotiators, and officials in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India to seek their support for speeding up the intra-Afghan negotiations — a key component of a historic peace deal struck between Washington and the Taliban in February.
In Islamabad, Khalilzad met with Pakistan’s army chief on Friday seeking his support in pressing the Taliban for a reduction in violence, the immediate start of intra-Afghan negotiations, according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad on Saturday.
“Ambassador Khalilzad discussed [with Gen. Bajwa] ongoing efforts by the United States to advance the Afghan peace process and sought Pakistan’s support in pressing for a reduction in violence, [and] the immediate start of intra-Afghan negotiations,”, the statement said.
