Zalmay Khalilzad – US Special Envoy for Afghanistan and General Miller – a senior military commander, arrived in Islamabad for an unscheduled visit to GHQ on Tuesday.
According to the statement issued by US embassy in Pakistan, US Special Envoy for Afghan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and Resolute Support Mission Commander General Austin Scott Miller met with COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa to discuss and review the ongoing Afghan peace aimed at securing sustainable and permanent ceasefire in Afghanistan.
“Pakistan’s military leaders reaffirmed their support for U.S. efforts and renewed their commitment to act to advance a political settlement to the conflict,” said the US embassy in Pakistan.
“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, overall regional security situation including Afghan refugees issue / Afghan reconciliation process were discussed,” read the statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
“COAS emphasised that amidst COVID-19 situation, we should not lose track of hard earned achievements for Afghan Peace Process and Peace & stability in the region,” the statement added.
General Bajwa also briefed the dignitaries of Pakistan’s efforts for lasting peace and Prime Minister’s vision of international cooperation and collaboration to resolve the issues faced by developing nations.
According to sources the issue of recent arrest of ISIS-Khorasan chief Aslam Farooqui was also discussed in the meeting as Pakistan had earlier requested Afghan officials to handover Aslam Farooqui to Pakistan for his role in anti-Pakistan activities.
Earlier, on April 13, Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad had welcomed the release of prisoners by both the Afghan government and the Taliban and termed it as ‘an important step’ in the peace process. Around 300 Taliban prisoners were released by Afghan government in exchange for the release of 20 Afghan security personnel held by Taliban.
Experts suggest that the visit comes to push forward and ensure the successful implementation of US-Taliban Peace deal signed on February 29, 2020.
