US envoy for Afghanistan on 2-week peace mission

WASHINGTON – The U.S. envoy for Afghanistan is travelling to Afghanistan and also Belgium, Germany, Pakistan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates over the next two weeks as part of an effort to help end the long-running war.

In Kabul, the State Department says Zalmay Khalilzad will consult with the Afghan government and other Afghans.

He also will continue talks with the Taliban in Doha, where the insurgent movement maintains a political office. The Taliban refuse to negotiate directly with the Kabul government.

At his other stops, Khalilzad will work to build international support for the Afghan peace process.

The talks so far have focused on a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal as well as Taliban guarantees that they won’t harbour terrorist groups or allow Afghanistan to be used as a staging ground for global terror attacks.