Zalmay Khalilzad visits Pakistan, meets General Bajwa

Islamabad: US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and Commander NATO Resolute Support Mission General Austin Scott Miller visited Islamabad on October 8.

In a meeting with Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Ambassador Khalilzad again thanked Prime Minister Khan and General Bajwa for their help in advancing the Afghanistan peace process.

He and General Bajwa agreed that intra-Afghan direct negotiations are an historic opportunity for achieving peace in Afghanistan and for the region. They also agreed the opportunity must not be lost and past mistakes should not be repeated.

They discussed the efforts countries who support the peace process can undertake to help Afghans reach a political settlement and to implement it. They also discussed Prime Minister Khan’s upcoming visit to Afghanistan and the roadmap that would guide Pakistan-Afghanistan relations after there is a peace agreement, said a statement released by the US embassy.

Ambassador Khalilzad, General Miller, and General Bajwa affirmed the need for a significant reduction in violence in Afghanistan as peace negotiations between the two sides move forward.