The US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad has met with President Ghani and Chairperson of the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR), Abdullah Abdullah, discussing the Afghan peace process, particularly the upcoming Istanbul conference.
Khalilzad met with President Ghani at the Presidential Palace earlier today in the morning, April 10, the Presidential Palace said in a statement.
The two sides discussed the progress made in the peace process and preparations for the upcoming Istanbul conference, the statement added.
The US peace envoy also met with the HCNR Chairperson Abdullah and exchanged views on the peace process, talks in Doha, national consensus, and preparations for the Istanbul conference. “We welcome the acceleration of the process & achieving a comprehensive political settlement,” Abdullah said in a tweet posted today, April 10.
Today I met HE Zalmay Khalilzad @US4AfghanPeace. We exchanged views on the #AfghanPeaceProcess, the talks in Doha, internal consensus & preparations for the upcoming conference in Turkey. We welcome the acceleration of the process & achieving a comprehensive political settlement. pic.twitter.com/el0OM5fYNY
— Dr. Abdullah Abdullah (@DrabdullahCE) April 10, 2021
This comes as the Istanbul conference is reportedly set to take place on April 16 but the date is not officially declared yet.
The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban are supposed to discuss proposals, including a US proposal which includes establishing an interim administration and a ceasefire, in the upcoming conference that is going to be held under the United Nations watch.
