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US special envoy Khalilzad embarks on 4-country tour for Afghan peace efforts
US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad on Tuesday embarked on a two-week tour of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and China for talks with each country's leadership on the Afghan peace process.
The US Secretary of State's Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Ambassador Khalilzad, is leading an intra-agency delegation and will meet officials in each country in order to "facilitate an inclusive peace process in Afghanistan", a handout from the US State Department said.
The envoy's trip will end on Jan 21.
Read more: Zalmay Khalilzad ─ the blunt veteran US diplomat leading peace efforts in Afghanistan
The press release stressed the US' desire to reach a "political settlement" to the Afghan conflict and "empower the Afghan people to chart a shared course for their nation’s future".
"The United States supports the desire of the Afghan people and the international community for a political settlement that ends the 40-year conflict and ensures Afghanistan never again serves as a platform for international terrorism," the statement added.
It further claimed that the US goal is to "promote dialogue among Afghans" and ensure that all concerned parties reach a solution that will allow "every Afghan citizen [to] enjoy equal rights and responsibilities under the rule of law".
The US special envoy is actively trying to broker a political solution to the Afghan conflict and has held multiple meetings with the leadership of Afghanistan as well as that of other countries in the region, including Pakistan.
He has also held three rounds of talks with the Afghan Taliban in order to reach a settlement that would allow the US to withdraw its army and end a 17-year-old war — America's longest.
Comments (20) Closed
Americans keep knocking on India’s door not realising that door is part of the problem. It does not share border nor culture with Afghanistan and uses it as a base for terror activities against Pakistan. No wonder Americans failed to win the war with policy blunderes.
At last! The Americsns are starting to get serious...
Gordon D. Walker
Canada
This guy is even less trustworthy than his boss! And THAT is saying something. Wasted air travel and protocols etc.
Lot of things happening back doors . Maybe something important likely to occur on Afghanistan. probably American withdrawal
If he is visiting India, then his mission is desd.
But India will never put its Army on harms way.
embarked on a two-week tour of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and China for talks with each country's leadership on the Afghan peace process""""" Why India.? What has been Indian contribution in Afghanistan. That should be next question.Ley us see where he stays for maximum time in this two weeks Tour.
India does nothing thing but create more problems.
What does India has to share in the reponsibility for peace in Afghanistan except for US appeasement and creating troubles others!
US has not yet given up the hope of leaving India in charge when they withdraw.
This trip is initiated just to confuse further the Afghan issue, where only its neighbours without India are relevant elements.
Afghan Talibans does not want any peace with any government. They want the whole Afghanistan to rule by themselves alone.
All major powers in the region, especially G20 members China, Russia, India and KSA can help Afghanistan’s ailing economy by enticing Afghan powerbrokers with financial incentives and foreign direct investment in Afghanistan’s fledgling mining sector. Win win situation for Afghanistan and the region. Afghanistan needs all the help it can get in promoting peace and development.
Go peace,go!
Gordon D. Walker
Canada
As long as India is kept at distance,the process will be a success
Afghans and USA think that India can contribute
This man had traded his patriotism and is now an agent of the exploiters of Afghanistan.
Good luck
@Wajahat Hussain , They have money and willing to invest for infrastructures.
@Shah Pakistan doesn’t share borders with KSA and UAE, nor does it share a common culture with Arabs, but they help financially and wield tremendous influence in Pakistan.
Afghanistan and Pakistan share a common religion and that is the extent of shared commonalities. Bilateral relationships between nation states are about convergence on issues related mainly to the economy, everything else is secondary.
I’m an Afghan and I have Pakistani friends here in the US, and I’m here to tell you that I don’t have anything in common with these friends besides religion. Even the Pakistani Pashtuns that I know are not culturally similar to an Afghan Pashtun like myself.