US special envoy to participate in Moscow meeting

KABUL (Pajhwok): US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad will attend an Afghan peace conference in Moscow.

“Ambassador Khalilzad does plan to attend the meeting in Moscow,” a State Department spokesman told a media briefing in Washington on Monday.

Reuters quoted Ned Price as saying that “as of last week the Secretary (Antony Blinken) said we are engaging in the region and international partners to try to accelerate progress towards a political settlement.”

As a part of the Biden administration’s ongoing efforts to encourage the important peace process, Ambassador Khalilzad planned to attend the Afghan peace talks in Moscow this week.

Price added: “This meeting will complement all other international efforts to support the Afghanistan peace process and also reflects the international community’s concerns about the progress to date.”

High Council for National Reconciliation Chairman Abdullah Abdullah will also participate in the event. He will lead a delegation of the government’s negotiating team members.

A 10-member Taliban delegation would also travel to Russia attend the meeting, Dr. Mohammad Naeem, spokesman for the Taliban’s political office, confirmed yesterday.

Amid a renewed peace push, Turkey announced last week it plans to host another round of Afghan peace talks in Istanbul next month.

mud