1TV: Speaking at a roundtable discussion with media persons, Zalmay Khalilzad, US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, said that there is a consensus among all the regional partners on Taliban talking to the Afghan government. “If the Talibs want to talk, we can talk. If they want to fight, we can fight,” Khalilzad said. “We hope
RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal January 15, 2019 Pakistan has detained a senior member of the Afghan Taliban, sources in the group say. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the sources told RFE/RL that Hafiz Mohibullah, religious affairs minister when the Taliban ran Afghanistan before the 2001 U.S.-led invasion, was detained in the northwestern city of Peshawar. There
Ayaz Gul VOA News January 14, 2019 ISLAMABAD — The fledgling U.S.-initiated dialogue with the Taliban, aimed at ending the war in Afghanistan, has come to a halt, an insurgent spokesperson said Monday, apparently dealing a blow to renewed hopes for a much-needed Afghan peace. The disclosure comes as the chief U.S. negotiator, Zalmay Khalilzad, is
RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan January 9, 2019 KABUL — The U.S. special envoy on Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, has begun a two-week diplomatic tour of Afghanistan and other countries in the region in an attempt to push forward the peace process with the Taliban. Khalilzad began his latest diplomatic mission on January 8 — the same
Press TV December 30, 2018 The Taliban militant group has rejected a call by the Afghan government for formal peace talks next month in Saudi Arabia. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Taliban leader announced on Sunday that the group’s representatives would meet US officials in the Saudi Arabian port city of Jeddah for the
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty December 20, 2018 The U.S. special peace envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, has questioned the Taliban’s determination to end the 17-year war, after the group’s representatives refused to meet with an Afghan government-backed negotiating team. “We have to wait and see their forthcoming steps,” Khalilzad told Afghan news agency Ariana News
Ayaz Gul VOA News December 19, 2018 ISLAMABAD — The Taliban say ongoing bilateral “serious discussions” with the United States are entirely focused on the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan and reports to the contrary are “propaganda.” The marathon three-day dialogue, being hosted by the United Arab Emirates, is due to conclude Wednesday. Pakistan says
Ayaz Gul VOA News December 17, 2018 ISLAMABAD — Pakistan-organized peace talks involving U.S. and Taliban officials took place in the United Arab Emirates Monday. Government officials were not immediately available to discuss details of the meeting. The special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, led the U.S. team in talks that included envoys from Pakistan,
Ayaz Gul VOA News December 3, 2018 ISLAMABAD — U.S. President Donald Trump in a letter to Pakistan’s prime minister, Imran Khan, has sought Islamabad’s cooperation in bringing the Taliban to the table for negotiating peace in Afghanistan. Khan revealed to a group of local journalists that he received the letter Monday morning and promised Pakistan
Ayaz Gul VOA News November 29, 2018 ISLAMABAD — A British security contractor, G4S, says five of its employees, including a Briton, were killed and 32 others injured in an overnight gun-and-bomb attack against one of its compounds in the Afghan capital Kabul. The company said Thursday five employees have been “seriously” injured. Afghan officials confirm