US special envoy congratulates Afghan leaders on 'inclusive' team for Taliban talks

Khalilzad says consensus will move parties significantly closer to intra-Afghan negotiations

KABUL: The US special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad congratulated Afghan political and civil society leaders on Friday on forming a negotiating team for talks with Taliban.

“This consensus is a meaningful step that moves the parties significantly closer to intra-Afghan negotiations,” he said on Twitter.

This consensus is a meaningful step that moves the parties significantly closer to intra-Afghan negotiations.

— U.S. Special Representative Thomas West (@US4AfghanPeace) March 27, 2020

I want to congratulate Afghan government, political & civil society leaders for coming together. They've forged an inclusive negotiating team for talks with the Taliban. The Islamic Republic delegation reflects the true tapestry of the nation and the instrumental role of women.

— U.S. Special Representative Thomas West (@US4AfghanPeace) March 27, 2020

Late on Thursday, Afghanistan’s government announced a 21-member team to negotiate with the Taliban, in a tentative sign of progress for the United States-brokered peace deal that had previously been marred with delays, in part due to a bitter feud between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his political rival Abdullah Abdullah.