US top envoys, Pakistani officials discuss Afghan peace process

ISLAMABAD: US Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, South and Central Asia, Alice G. Wells reached the Foreign Office on Monday.

They held delegation level talks with Pakistani officials at the Foreign Office in Islamabad.

“Ambassador @US4AfghanPeace and Ambassador Alice Wells held delegation level talks at #MoFA today. Pakistan side consisted of interagency delegation led by Mr. Aftab Khokhar, Additional Secretary (Americas),” the Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal tweeted.

Ambassador @US4AfghanPeace and Ambassador Alice Wells held delegation level talks at #MoFA today. Pakistan side consisted of interagency delegation led by Mr. Aftab Khokhar, Additional Secretary (Americas). pic.twitter.com/LsS2tjhMhf

— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) April 29, 2019

Khalilzad’s tour is said to be part of the ‘overall effort to facilitate a political settlement that ends the conflict in Afghanistan’.

Earlier, on April 26, the special envoy had lauded Prime Minister Imran Khan’s policy statement on Afghanistan.

In a statement on Twitter, Khalilzad had said, “Greatly appreciate Imran Khan statement yesterday on Afghanistan. His appeal for reduction of violence and policy against promoting internal conflict in other nations has potential to positively transform the region and give Pakistan a leading role.”

In the view of recent wave of violence in Afghanistan and the collapse of intra-Afghan dialogue, PM Imran Khan had asserted, “Pakistan will not be party to any internal conflict in Afghanistan anymore.”

A statement issued by the Prime Minister office had stated, “Pakistan is highly dismayed by the surge of violence in Afghanistan from all sides. The so called offensives are condemnable and will undermine the peace process. It is not right to seek an edge in dialogue through coercion.”