ISLAMABAD: US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad called on Prime Minister Imran Khan at the PM Office in Islamabad on Monday, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Ambassador Khalilzad briefed the prime minister about latest developments in the context of the Afghan peace and reconciliation process.
Reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to a peaceful, stable and democratic Afghanistan, Prime Minister Khan said that Pakistan welcomed the recent progress in peace talks between the US and Taliban. He expressed the hope that the peace deal would be signed at the earliest to be followed by intra-Afghan dialogue for working out a settlement for sustained peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, US Special Rep for Afghanistan, calls on Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI pic.twitter.com/gSijZve9Ks
— Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) February 17, 2020
The prime minister underlined that Pakistan had facilitated the Afghan peace and reconciliation process as it genuinely believed that after Afghanistan it stood to benefit the most from peace and stability in that country. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve and continued commitment to the Afghan peace process.
He stressed that the formalization of peace deal in the near future was essential also for creating conducive conditions for millions of Afghan refugees in Pakistan to return to their homeland in dignity and honour.
The prime minister further underlined that sustained peace and stability in Afghanistan would contribute positively to connectivity and regional prosperity as well.
Earlier today, Zalmay Khalilzad met Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to discuss progress thus far made towards talks with the Taliban to bring peace in war-torn Afghanistan.
Read More: FM Qureshi assures US envoy of positive efforts for Afghan peace
Speaking during the meeting at the Foreign Office in Islamabad, the foreign minister reiterated the country played a key role for resolution of the Afghan conflict and will continue making positive efforts for the Afghan peace and reconciliation process.
Shah Mahmood said the government would determine the time and resources to be incurred on repatriation of the Afghan refugees in phases.
Read More: Pakistan will continue to play role in Afghan peace process: PM Khan
The US envoy lauded Pakistan for peace efforts and hosting a huge number of the Afghan refugees.
