Afghan president Ashraf Ghani and the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad on Sunday discussed a range of issues on Afghan peace process, the Presidential Palace said in a statement on Monday.
Members of Peace Consultative Board, a negotiating delegation, representative of political parties, some scholars, members of civil society, youth, women representative of private sectors, and some high-ranked government officials also attended the meeting, the statement cited.
Since days, countless issues have been raised and discussed on peace process; more actions are needed in order to obtain lasting peace in Afghanistan, Ghani exclaimed at the meeting.
Ghani said Afghan government has agreed upon a new framework with Khalilzad which will pave the way for peace negotiation in the country and region. Actions will be taken in context with the framework, he added.
“We want the Taliban to clarify their relationship with Pakistan and (we want) Pakistan (clarify) its relationship with the Taliban – and explain what this is based on; (and what is) the Taliban’s connection with terrorist networks and their connection with economic crimes,” Ghani said.
Meanwhile Khalilzad said, in order to maintain the interests of both counties and reducing the cost of war, the US-Afghan goal is to increase their diplomatic channel to establish lasting peace in Afghanistan.
“Our goal is not to find a way out, but our goal is to provide lasting peace in Afghanistan, and the expansion and strengthening of the two countries’ post-peace relations will be discussed with the Afghan government,” Khalilzad said.
US is serious about peace process that will put an end to the 40-year crises in the country, Khalilzad added. Peace is favorable not only for Afghanistan but the region.
Khalilzad futher siad the US discussed four issues with Taliban that included Taliban’s link with al_Qaeda, US troops in Afghanistan, direct talk with Afghan government, and permanent ceasefire.
Progress will not transpire unless they come up on a mutual agreement on these four issues, he added.
It comes after Doha talks last month, where Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban delegations have discussed on peace in Afghanistan; he expressed hope on achieving positive results before the next presidential election in July.
