AVA - Khalilzad Heads To Afghanistan, Qatar For Peace Mission

The US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad began his new trip on Afghan peace in which he will travel to Afghanistan and Qatar to resume negotiations with the Taliban.

Khalilzad will travel to Afghanistan and Qatar from July 22 – August 1, as part of an overall effort to facilitate a peace process that ends the conflict in Afghanistan, the US Department of State said in a statement.

He will consult closely with the Afghan government on the next steps in the peace process, including identifying a national negotiating team that can participate in intra-Afghan negotiations, the statement said.
Khalilzad will also meet with the representatives of civil society, including peace advocates and women’s rights groups, to further encourage broad participation in the peace process and in Doha, he will resume talks with the Taliban, the statement added.
The seventh round of US-Taliban talks in Doha was “most productive” as Khalilzad described.
The two sides have been discussing four key issues – US forces withdrawal, counter-terrorism assurances, a ceasefire and intra-Afghan talks.