Afghanistan Times
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KABUL: The US special envoy for Afghanistan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad would remain for some time in Doha, where the Afghan government and Taliban negotiating teams have been conducting the fragile intra-Afghan talks.
A spokesman for the US Department of State, Ned Price told the reporters that Washington had continued encouraging all sides to constructively take part knowing that “this is a moment in time where progress is possible”.
“We have continued to encourage all sides to take part constructively and with a degree of alacrity,” he added
Price said that the U.S would pay all-out efforts to support the peace negotiations between the various parties.” “That is precisely why we’re there.”
The UN envoy for Afghanistan, Deborah Lyons left Kabul for Doha on Tuesday to meet with the parties involved in the Afghan peace.
“UN envoy for Afghanistan Deborah Lyons arrived in Doha today to meet Afghan parties and international partners to discuss the status and next steps in the Afghanistan Peace Process as well as to exchange views on how best the UN can support these efforts,” the UN Assistance Mission said in a tweet on Tuesday.
Lyons’ visit to Doha comes after the US Secretary of State; Antony Blinken in a letter to President Ashraf Ghani said that US would urge United Nations to convene foreign ministers and envoys from Russian, China, Iran, India, Pakistan and the United States to discuss a unified breakthrough in support for peace in Afghanistan.
“The US prepared a revised proposal for a 90-day reduction in violence that is intended to prevent a spring offensive by the Taliban,” Blinken said.
The US and Taliban signed a deal last February in Qatari capital of Doha. Under the deal, the US is called to withdraw troops by May1.
