Special Representative Khalilzad’s Visit to Kabul

Statement on the Visit by Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad to Kabul

Ambassador Khalilzad departed Kabul this evening following productive talks with President Ghani on accelerating a settlement process, reducing violence across Afghanistan, and supporting Afghan security forces if violence continues.   He also discussed these topics with former President Karzai, leaders of the High Peace Council, and other prominent Afghans. Ambassador Khalilzad was pleased to see the Afghans with whom he met, inside and outside government, coming together to put peace first.

He discussed with President Ghani and other leaders how to ensure the intra-Afghan dialogue in Doha next week, in which representatives of the Afghan government and wider society will participate, can best advance our shared goal of accelerating a settlement process.

Ambassador Khalilzad underscored the imperative of reducing violence across Afghanistan in the coming weeks and explored ways to build broader regional support for the current effort to realize the Afghan people’s yearning for peace.

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