US peace envoy meets with Afghan leaders in Kabul

US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad arrived in Kabul on Monday and immediately met with Afghan leaders to discuss the recent developments around the peace process.

The Presidential Palace (ARG) said Khalilzad met with President Ashraf Ghani on Monday afternoon. ARG stated they discussed Khalilzad’s recent trips to neighboring countries and to Doha and the next steps in the peace process.

Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation also met with Khalilzad on Monday.

“We discussed the peace process, new initiatives, latest political developments and steps forward,” Abdullah said in a tweet.

Abdullah also said that during the meeting: “We reiterated our call for a political settlement and acceleration of the peace efforts.”

Khalilzad’s visit to Kabul is the second in two weeks and takes place amid growing efforts by various stakeholders to get the Afghan Republic and the Taliban to reach a political settlement.

The push for peace by the US has included a draft peace plan which was handed to all parties to the conflict and other influential parties and outlined a plan for an interim government. Another suggestion was that involving a summit, in Turkey.

Moscow has since however organized another peace meeting that is expected to take place in Russia on Thursday. The Afghan government and the Taliban have both indicated that they will be attending the meeting.

Earlier Monday, US and Qatari officials meanwhile met with the Taliban’s deputy leader in Doha.
Khalilzad, and Qatar Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on Monday met with Mullar Baradar, said Mohammad Naeem, a Taliban spokesman.

According to Naeem, the implementation of the Doha deal was discussed at the meeting.