US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad plans to visit Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Qatar to discuss the situation with the peace process in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the US Department of State said on June 28.
The exact date of the visit is not specified. The representative of the State Department will be accompanied by the head of the US International Development Finance Corporation Adam Boehler.
Khalilzad plans to urge Afghans to fulfill their commitments, reduce violence and support the release of prisoners. He will also hold talks with the leadership of Afghanistan on video conferencing.
“The delegation will explore investment opportunities to promote the economic recovery of Afghanistan and ensure peace and stability in the region,” the statement said.
On February 29, the US and the Taliban signed a peace agreement in Qatar. It provides for the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan and the beginning of intra-Afghan dialogue. In accordance with the agreement, official Kabul pledged to release up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners, and those, in turn, to withdraw from captivity up to 1,000 Afghan soldiers.
According Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry, at the end of May, the first trilateral meeting Uzbekistan-US-Afghanistan was held in the form of video conferencing. It discussed the process of a peaceful settlement within the country and international assistance to Afghanistan.
