US envoy to lead delegation to facilitate Afghan peace

Washington: Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad will lead an interagency delegation to India, China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan from January 8 to 21.

According to a media note from the United States Department of State, Khalilzad will meet with senior government officials in each country to facilitate an intra-Afghan political settlement.

The United States has also extended its support to the desire of the Afghan people and the international community for a political settlement that ends the 40-year conflict and ensures that ‘Afghanistan never again serves as a platform for international terrorism’.

“Special Representative Khalilzad will meet with Afghan government officials and other interested parties to support and facilitate an inclusive peace process in Afghanistan, empowering the Afghan people to chart a shared course for their nation’s future”, the media note stated.

The special US envoy will continue to coordinate his efforts with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah, and other Afghan stakeholders to ensure an intra-Afghan peace process.

“The U.S. goal is to promote dialogue among Afghans about how to end the conflict and to encourage the parties to come together at the negotiating table to reach a political settlement where every Afghan citizen enjoys equal rights and responsibilities under the rule of law,” read the media note.

During his last trip in December, Special Representative Khalilzad had reiterated that the only solution to the conflict is for all parties to sit together and reach an agreement on the political future of Afghanistan with mutual respect and acceptance.

[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]