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AFGHANISTAN-TALIBAN-US-TALKS
US envoy in Kabul amid signs talks with Taliban to resume
KABUL, Dec 4, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Zalmay Khalilzad, the US envoy leading the
push for a deal with the Taliban, arrived in Kabul on Wednesday, an Afghan
official said, days after President Donald Trump suggested stalled talks were
back on.
“Khalilzad is in Kabul and will meet with the president and other senior
Afghan officials later,” a senior Afghan official told AFP, adding that the
resumption of talks would be on the agenda.
The US embassy in Kabul declined to comment.
In September, the US and the Taliban had appeared on the verge of signing a
deal that would have seen Washington begin pulling thousands of troops out of
Afghanistan in return for security guarantees.
It was also expected to pave the way towards direct talks between the
Taliban and the government in Kabul and, ultimately, a possible peace
agreement after more than 18 years of war.
But that month Trump abruptly called the year-long effort “dead”, and
withdrew an invitation to the insurgents to meet in the United States due to
the killing of an American soldier.
During a surprise visit to an American military base in Afghanistan last
week, Trump said the Taliban “wants to make a deal”.
But the insurgents later said it was “way too early” to speak of resuming
direct talks with Washington.
Even though talks have officially been stalled, Khalilzad has in recent
weeks continued his whistle-stop tour of various nations with a stake in
Afghan peace, including Pakistan.
The Taliban have until now refused to negotiate with the Afghan government,
which they consider an illegitimate regime.
BSS/AFP/ARS/1836 hrs