City
Epaper

Khalilzad reaches Doha, US-Taliban talks to resume soon

By IANS | Updated: December 7, 2019 12:20 IST

Zalmay Khalilzad, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, has arrived in Doha where he will resume peace talks with Taliban negotiators soon, according to informed sources.

Open in App

Khalilzad reached the Qatari capital on Friday after the US State Department on Wednesday announced that he would rejoin the talks "to discuss steps that could lead to intra-Afghan negotiations and a peaceful settlement to the ongoing conflict in the country", TOLO News reported.

An initial round of talks was called off three months ago by US President Donald Trump after a Taliban attack in Kabul that killed an American soldier.

The sources said on Friday that after finalizing an agreement with the US, the Taliban will commit to reducing the level of violence.

Before his arrival in Doha, Khalilzad was in Kabul for two days during which he held talks with top Afghan government officials and prominent politic including former President Hamid Karzai.

"Discussions were held on three topics, first the US and the Taliban will resume their direct talks, and they will try to focus on the issue of reduction of violence and the intra-Afghan negotiations," said Shahzada Massoud, former advisor to Karzai.

During the Kabul trip, Khalilzad urged the Afghan government to step up efforts to create an inclusive delegation.

But Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of Hizb-e-Islami, has said that the Afghan government remains one of the major obstructions in the way of peace.

"The only factor that obstructs the peace, the one who wants the continuation of war and foresees that its survival requires continuation of war is the present government," he said.

But Sediq Sediqqi, the spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani, said: "If someone thinks that the government is a hurdle on the way of peace, this unawareness shows the poor understanding of the individual or groups who say it."

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: usKhalilzadHamid KarzaiTalibanKabul
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalFlorida Shooting: US Rapper Offset Injured at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood; Two Detained

InternationalMajid Khademi Death: IRGC Intel Chief Killed in US-Israel Attack, Confirms Iran

InternationalLaGuardia Airport Plane Accident: At Least 2 Killed, Several Injured After Air Canada Express CRJ-900 Collides With Fire Truck on Runway

InternationalUS-Israel-Iran War: Japan, Germany, France Show Caution Over Trump’s Strait of Hormuz Warship Plan

InternationalUK Watchdogs Urge Social Media Giants To Stop Children Accessing Platforms

International Realted Stories

InternationalIllicit cigarette trade drains Pakistan’s revenue by Rs 300 bn: Report

International"Window for diplomatic resolution rapidly closing": Qatar warns of "spiral" in regional conflict

InternationalCentral Tibetan Administration pays tribute to Tibetan monk Thupten Nyendak, recalls sacrifice for religious freedom

International"Ball in Iran's court," says JD Vance on talks amid warning of stronger US Response

InternationalPakistan's crackdown on Ahmadis exposes deep-rooted institutional persecution: Report