DOHA - US special envoy to Afghanistan peace process Zalmai Khalilzad on his new round of trip to Qatar and the region on Monday met with Afghan government negotiating delegation and the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.
Zalmai Khalilzad in his meet with the Afghan government negotiating team emphasized the acceleration of the peace talks as Afghanistan is experiencing its worst violation in the past 20 years.
The meet with Kabul’s negotiators in Doha comes after partial improvements in the talks were confirmed by both sides on Saturday this week.
Afghan government negotiating team has suggested a third party or mediator who will not be attending the get-togethers between the Taliban and the Afghan government.
Khalilzad with Qatar’s deputy PM and FM affirmed that the role of Qatar in facilitating and expediting peace talks for achieving lasting peace in Afghanistan has been vital.
The host country, Qatar has offered the role of mediator as intra-afghan talks have been stalled now for over 11 months.
Khalilzad has not yet met with the Taliban negotiators in Doha as the team’s key members are busy touring the region. A Taliban delegation led by Shir Muhammad Abbas Stanikzai is visiting Turkmenistan after its visit to Iran and Russia. (Khaama Press)