Khalilzad meets Gen Qamar amid push for Afghan truce

US Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad on Thursday paid an unannounced visit to Pakistan and held talks with army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa as efforts are being made to persuade Taliban to agree to a ceasefire.

The special envoy was accompanied by General Austin Scott Miller, the commander of the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan.

Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt General Faiz Hameed and Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq were also present at the meeting held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

“Matters related to mutual interest, peace and stability in the region, Pak-Afghan border management and current developments in the Afghan peace process were discussed during the meeting,” read a statement issued by the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

“The visiting dignitaries appreciated the positive role being played by Pakistan in the Afghan peace process,” the brief statement added without providing further details.

The visit by Khalilzad along with the top US commander stationed in Afghanistan appears to highlight the Trump administration’s urgency towards the ongoing peace efforts.

It is believed that the Trump administration wants to see some breakthrough before the presidential election on November 3.

Earlier in the day, President Donald Trump said all US troops in Afghanistan should be “home by Christmas”. His national security adviser said Washington would reduce its forces in the war-torn country to 2,500 by early next year.

The troops withdrawal is part of a landmark agreement signed between the US and Afghan Taliban on February 29. The Taliban were quick to welcome the US decision and vowed to implement the February 29 deal.

In return for the troops withdrawal, the Taliban have pledged not to allow Afghan soil to be used again by terrorist groups like al-Qaeda.

Last month after many hiccups and months of delay, the Taliban and the Afghan government began direct negotiations in Doha. The negotiating sides currently are trying to evolve consensus on the agenda and rules of engagements.

One of the key demands from the Afghan government and even the US includes the Taliban either agreeing to a permanent ceasefire or at least reducing the current level of violence.

It is understood that the recent visit by Dr Abdullah Abdullah, the head of Afghan high peace council, and the latest trip by Ambassador Khalilzad were aimed at seeking Pakistan’s support to help convince the Taliban to agree to a truce.

Islamabad has played a key role in brokering the talks between Taliban and the US and has also been instrumental in breaking the deadlock in the way of intra-Afghan talks.

Observers believe that the US and Afghan government expect Pakistan to use its ‘good offices’ and ‘leverage’ over Taliban for a possible ceasefire.

However, Taliban have so far refused to accept the demand as they appear to consider use of violence an important tool to press the other sides for accepting their conditions in the negotiations. The insurgent group is insisting that the permanent truce will be part of the overall agreement that may reach through intra-Afghan talks.