Khalilzad hails Pakistan's efforts for Afghan peace process

US special envoy for Afghanistan reconciliation met top civil-military leadership during his vist to Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad thanked Pakistan for its efforts to support the ongoing Afghan peace process as he wrapped up his two-day visit to Islamabad on Saturday.

Khalilzad wrote on the microblogging website Twitter that he appreciated Pakistan for re-affirming that "Afghans alone" would determine their future. He stressed that there was always more work to be done in this regard.

“Just wrapped up two days in #Islamabad. Thanked #Pakistan for recent efforts supporting the #AfghanPeaceProcess and for re-affirming the understanding that ultimately Afghans, and Afghans alone, will determine their future. Always more work to be done. Back to #Kabul!” he wrote.

Just wrapped up two days in #Islamabad. Thanked #Pakistan for recent efforts supporting the #AfghanPeaceProcess and for re-affirming the understanding that ultimately Afghans, and Afghans alone, will determine their future. Always more work to be done. Back to #Kabul! pic.twitter.com/Ar5LCSRfmc

— U.S. Special Representative Thomas West (@US4AfghanPeace) April 6, 2019

The US Embassy in Islamabad said in a statement that Khalilzad met Pakistan's foreign secretary and the chief of army staff during his two-day visit to Islamabad. It added that both sides had emphasized that peace in Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan.

Khalilzad thanked Pakistan for facilitating travel of the Taliban team for the talks, the embassy said, adding that the US expected that Pakistan would continue its positive role in the Afghan peace process.



Afghan Peace Process

The US envoy is on a mission to expedite the Afghan peace process as the war in the war-torn country enters its 19th year. He has held a series of meetings with the Pakistani leadership as part of Washington’s renewed push to bring the Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table.

The latest push for peace came after President Donald Trump wrote a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan, seeking Pakistan’s help for the negotiated settlement of the Afghan conflict.

In the letter, the United States had sought PM Imran's full support to advance Afghan peace process. The correspondence came after Trump accused Pakistan of "doing nothing" despite receiving "billions of dollars" in aid.

PM IK's response to Trump's offensive tweets against Pak compelled Trump to do a reality chk & write to PM Khan asking for help in bringing peace to Afghanistan! So much for those in Pak who were quivering after IK's tweets went out!

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) December 4, 2018

Of course we should have captured Osama Bin Laden long before we did. I pointed him out in my book just BEFORE the attack on the World Trade Center. President Clinton famously missed his shot. We paid Pakistan Billions of Dollars & they never told us he was living there. Fools!..

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2018

The premier had hit back to the allegations by advising Washington to assess its efficiency in the war on terror instead of making Pakistan a scapegoat for its failure.

Trump’s false assertions add insult to the injury Pak has suffered in US WoT in terms of lives lost & destabilised & economic costs. He needs to be informed abt historical facts. Pak has suffered enough fighting US's war. Now we will do what is best for our people & our interests

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 19, 2018

Although both the US and Pakistan now have a commonality of views on seeking a political solution to the Afghan problem, the trust deficit between the two is the real stumbling block. Relations between the two countries are tense despite recent efforts to reset the troubled ties.

At the heart of their stalemate is the US insistence on Pakistan to do more to bring the Afghan Taliban on to the negotiating table. Washington still believes that Islamabad holds considerable sway over the insurgent group.