Russia, US to Discuss Permanent Peace in Afghanistan: Kabulov
U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad could visit Moscow in early December to discuss bringing a durable peace to Afghanistan, Russian president’s special representative said Monday.
U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad could visit Moscow in early December to discuss bringing a durable peace to Afghanistan, Russian president’s special representative said Monday.
This comes as Khalilzad is currently traveling to Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar with an interagency delegation.
During the tour on Nov. 8-20, he is to meet with Afghan government officials and other interested parties “to advance the goal of an intra-Afghan dialogue and negotiations that include the Taliban and lead to a sustainable peace,” according to a U.S. State Department statement.
Special Representative of the Russian President for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov said Khalilzad suggested the beginning of December for the Moscow trip.
On Friday, the second meeting of the Moscow format of consultations on Afghanistan was held in the Russian capital with the participation of deputy foreign ministers, special representatives and observers from Russia, Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, Iran, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and the United States.
“It’s a fact that representatives of the opposing sides were in the same room and were ready to talk to each other, which is the first step towards full-length talks in Afghanistan,” Kabulov said.
“The Taliban agreed to talk with the Afghan government only after reaching an agreement with the United States on a schedule for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan,” Kabulov added.
