Zalmay Khalilzad likely to hold talks with Taliban in Islamabad today

US special representative for Afghan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad is likely to meet Taliban representatives in Islamabad today (on Monday) to hold another round of talks to follow up Doha talks.

Voice of America (VOA) radio’s Dari service reported this likely development yesterday. However, the US embassy spokesperson in Kabul told VOA that US welcomes any actions by the Pakistani government to promote greater cooperation, including fostering negotiations between the Taliban, the Afghan government, and other Afghans.
Mr Khalilzad, had met, and would continue to meet, all interested parties, including the Taliban, to support a negotiated settlement t the conflict in Afghanistan, the spokesperson added. VOA reported that two weeks ago Mr Khalilzad asked Pakistani authorities to facilitate the Afghan peace process.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi announced on Saturday that Pakistan had asked the Taliban “to lay down their arms and prepare for talks”. While “Pakistan can help with these talks, the Afghan government, the Taliban and other groups must begin their own compromises and dialogues,” he suggested to them.
Mr Khalilzad — 14 days into an 18-day visit to the region — has travelled to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Belgium and plans to visit the UAE and Qatar.
This will not be the first time for Mr Khalilzad to meet the Taliban. He has already held two rounds of talks with them in Doha. The US media described these talks as “preliminary discussions”, adding that Washington hopes these contacts would pave the way for more substantial talks on a roadmap for peace in Afghanistan.
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump wrote to Prime Minister Khan, seeking his help to bring the Taliban to the table for negotiations. A day later, Mr Khalilzad visited Islamabad where he met the prime minister and Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, to follow-up on President Trump’s request.