KABUL (SW) – The top U.S. peace envoy for Afghanistan has stressed that the negotiation process should be expedited.
In a series of tweets, Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, also called for accelerating the intro-Afghan negotiations. “We must accelerate the #AfghanPeaceProcess including intra-Afghan negotiations. Success here will put Afghans in a much stronger position to defeat ISIS”.
He also condemned the Daesh-claimed attack on a Kabul wedding hall that killed scores of innocent Afghan families who had gathered to celebrate what was meant to be a joyous occasion.
Separately, President Donald Trump has also commented on situation n Afghanistan. “Just completed a very good meeting on Afghanistan. Many on the opposite side of this 19 year war, and us, are looking to make a deal – if possible!” he tweeted.
A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters significant differences remained between the United States and the Taliban after an eighth round of talks ended in Qatar on Monday. Some 14,000 U.S. troops remain engaged in America’s longest war, training and advising Afghan security forces and conducting counterinsurgency operations against militant groups such as al Qaeda and Islamic State’s local affiliate.
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