KABUL - US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis regarding President Donald Trump’s letter to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, says it is a diplomatic effort to end the long Afghan war.
The White House recently reached out to Pakistan requesting its support of a potential peace talks in Afghanistan.
President Trump has written a letter to Pakistani PM seeking Islamabad’s assistance in Afghan peace process, according to media reports on Monday.
“We are looking for every responsible nation to support peace in the sub-continent and across this war in Afghanistan,” said Mattis during a press conference with Indian Minister of Defence Nirmala Sitharaman in Pentagon.
It was time for everyone to get onboard, support US, PM Narendra Modi, President Ashraf Ghani and all those who were trying to maintain peace and make a better world, Mattis added.
“So we are on that track, it’s diplomatically –led, as it should be, and we will do our best to protect the Afghan people. That’s a diplomatic effort to end the war,” Mattis remarked.
This comes after the US Special Envoy for Afghan Peace Zalmay Khalilzad resumed his tour to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Belgium, The United Arab Emirates and Qatar to facilitate peace process.
Khalilzad departed for an eight-nation tour from December 2 to 20, the US Department of State said in a statement.
The envoy will also meet with Afghan government officials and other interested parties to support and facilitate an inclusive peace process in Afghanistan, empowering the Afghan people to decide their nation’s fate, the statement said. (Pajhwok)