The Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and his team just concluded a productive three days of consultations in Kabul with government officials, civil society leaders, and other Afghan political figures.
In his meetings, Ambassador Khalilzad outlined our focus on Afghanistan, diplomacy, and garnering wider international support in order to help Afghans make more rapid progress on the peace process.
He also noted that the Islamic Republic and the Taliban must find a path to a political settlement and a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire.
In Kabul, Khalilzad and his team discussed various options to propel the process forward and was encouraged by what they heard. There is widespread support for the need to move more quickly and deliver a just and durable peace that Afghans demand and deserve.
With civil society leaders, Ambassador Khalilzad was particularly heartened to see their commitment to peace has not wavered under the duress of increased targeted violence. He also stated that “leaders representing the advancement of women’s rights, provincial peace activists, and others are all committed to the gains of the last 20 years. We stand with them.”
