KABUL - US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad was in Kabul Wednesday (December 4) for talks on peace with Afghan government officials before heading to Doha for renewed negotiations with the Taliban.
In Kabul, Khalilzad, Afghan government officials and other Afghan leaders sought "to discuss how best to support accelerated efforts to get all parties to intra-Afghan negotiations", according to a statement from the US Department of State.
In two separate meetings, Khalilzad conferred with President Ashraf Ghani and Cheif Executive Abdullah Abdullah December 4 in Kabul.
Ghani and Khalilzad discussed the issue of a ceasefire with the Taliban, according to a statement released by Ghani's office December 4.
His visit comes less than a week after US President Donald Trump flew to Afghanistan and gave his blessing for a return to negotiations.
In Doha, Khalilzad "will rejoin talks with the Taliban to discuss steps that could lead to intra-Afghan negotiations and a peaceful settlement of the war, specifically a reduction in violence that leads to a ceasefire".
In a nod to concerns raised by Ghani, the US State Department voiced support for a ceasefire -- which the Taliban have long rejected and which did not figure in a draft accord that Khalilzad earlier reached with the insurgents.
In September, the United States and the Taliban had appeared on the verge of signing a deal that would have seen Washington begin pulling thousands of troops out of Afghanistan in return for promises to keep out foreign extremists.
It was also expected to pave the way toward direct talks between the Taliban and the government in Kabul and, ultimately, a possible peace agreement after more than 18 years of war.
But that same month, Trump withdrew an invitation to the insurgents to meet in the United States after the killing of 12 people, including an American soldier, in Kabul.
During a surprise visit to an American military base in Afghanistan on November 28, Trump said the Taliban "wants to make a deal".
The Taliban later said it was "way too early" to speak of resuming direct talks with Washington. (SALAAM TIMES)