KABUL - Reduction in violence is necessary to bring about a lasting peace to Afghanistan, the United States' Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad has said during visit to Kabul.
Khalilzad visited Kabul from October 26 to October 28 and from October 29 to November 1 and met with President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, and other government officials, US embassy in Kabul said in a statement on Saturday.
Khalilzad visited Kabul after holding talks with officials of European countries, Russia, China and Pakistan.
He briefed the Afghan government on his recent consultations with allies, partners and other countries in the region, the statement said.
He also met with former officials, members of civil society, and the religious community to brief them and to hear their views on the peace process, according to the statement.
Khalilzad had held peace talks with the Taliban for a year before they were halted by US President Donald Trump in September, citing a deadly attack in Kabul.
In Kabul, Khalilzad underscored that the US supports a political settlement to end the war in Afghanistan, and that a reduction in violence is necessary to bring about a lasting peace. (1TV News)