WASHINGTON - Following Taliban’s refusal to meet a US delegation in Pakistan, America’s special envoy renewed the Trump administration’s commitment to restoring peace in Afghanistan.
Zalmay Khalilzad, who is leading the US effort to facilitate negotiations for peace in Afghanistan, tweeted; “I see that many are concerned that the United States is willing to both talk and fight. Let me be clear: the US wants peace.”
In order to achieve that goal, he said, the US remained ready to address legitimate concerns of all Afghan sides in a process that ensured Afghanistan’s independence and sovereignty, and accounted for legitimate interests of regional states.”
“Urgent that fighting end. But pursuing peace still means we fight as needed,” wrote Khalilzad, who concluded meetings with officials in Islamabad on Saturday. However, he is still in the Pakistani capital.
In an attempt to find a political settlement to the war, the US launched direct negotiations with the Taliban last summer. But the rebel outfit has refused to meet the Khalilzad-led US team in Islamabad.
The Taliban have rejected as inordinate US calls for opening face-to-face negotiations with the Afghan government and announcing a ceasefire.  (Pajhwok)