<p>PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): During his recent visit to Islamabad, an influential US lawmaker is believed to have discussed with Pakistani leaders a proposal for a free trade agreement (FTA) in return for assistance in ending the Afghan war.</p>
<p>Senator Lindsey Graham, who visited Islamabad this week, told a news briefing at the US embassy that he would ask <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1458707">President Donald Trump to meet Prime Minister Imran Khan</a> and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.</p>
<p>Following a visit to <a href="/en/afghanistan" class="glossify-link">Afghanistan</a> to the peace table, and you can end the Afghan war.”</p>
<p>A Republican member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Graham has indicated people in the White House also desired to explore both possibilities -- the FTA proposal and Trump’s meeting with Khan and Ghani.</p>
<p>Dawn quoted US-based diplomatic sources as saying that the proposals could be implemented only if Washington was satisfied with Islamabad’s efforts to find a negotiated settlement to the Afghan war.</p>
<p>US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Ghani’s adviser Mohammad Umer Daudzai recently commended Pakistan’s help in arranging US-Taliban peace talks in Qatar and the UAE.</p>
<p>During his recent trip to Islamabad, Daudzai noticed that “Pakistan’s civilian government and security institutions are on the same page” on the need to push for peace in Afghanistan.</p>
<p>Senator Graham, a strong supporter of the US military presence in Afghanistan, has endorsed Imran Khan’s position on the need for reconciling with the Taliban.</p>
<p>mud</p>
