United States special representative for Afghan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad has on Monday appreciated Pakistan’s effort in the Afghan peace process and urged to approach the upcoming elections as well as ongoing peace talks with the Taliban officials with equal seriousness.
According to Dawn news reports, while pointing out suggestions by European Union’s high envoy for foreign affairs Federica Mogherini at a meeting earlier this week in Brussels, Khalilzad, in a tweet, said, “Enter negotiations as if there were no elections, united as a country, and do elections as if there were no negotiations.”
Afghanistan had delayed its presidential election until July 20 earlier this month for the second time, which was originally scheduled to take place on April 20, but suspended due to security concerns. Then too, the elections were delayed till September 28, apparently in order to gain time for discussion with the Taliban, who repeated its refusal to hold a direct conversation with the Afghan government.
Khalilzad wrote: “I particularly appreciated Federica Mogherini’s thoughts for Afghans concerned about potential overlap in timing of elections and the Afghan peace process.”
(1/2) Excellent meetings today with my counterparts at the #EU. We talked about our countries’ shared values, and about the meaningful political & social gains in #Afghanistan over the last 18 years, especially for women & children, which must be prioritized in the peace process. pic.twitter.com/ujDOK9JweD
— U.S. Special Representative Thomas West (@US4AfghanPeace) March 29, 2019
Khalilzad, who is on a multi-nation official trip to facilitate Afghan talks, has also noted Pakistan has assured the Afghan government that it has no intentions to interfere in Afghan’s internal affairs.
(2/2) I particularly appreciated @FedericaMog’s thoughts for #Afghans concerned about potential overlap in timing of elections and the #AfghanPeaceProcess: “Enter negotiations as if there were no elections, united as a country, and do elections as if there were no negotiations.”
— U.S. Special Representative Thomas West (@US4AfghanPeace) March 29, 2019
He said, “Appreciate Pakistan’s and other regional support for Afghan Peace Process and agree that Afghans have the right to live in peace after a long period of war.”