Monitoring Desk
KABUL: A delegation comprising of senior US and Afghan officials arrived in Kandahar province to discuss ongoing peace efforts with the local officials, elders, and activists.
The local officials confirmed that the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Office Abdul Salam Rahimi, the Commander of the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission Gen. Scott Miller, and some other officials visited Kandahar on Monday.
Provincial governor Hayatullah Hayat quoted in a statement issued by Kandahar govenor’s office said that he has shared the messages and demands of Kandahar elders and representatives regarding peace process with Ambassador Khalilzad.
Calling reconciliation a lengthy process, Hayat said the United States is currently working to pave the way for intra-Afghan dialogue which will take place between the government and Taliban representatives.
In the meantme, Ambassador Khalilzad has said that he has met with civil society and provincial leaders, eldres, women and activists during his visit to Kandahar to discuss their views regarding peace process.
“Today I visited #Kandahar, a city I’ve known since my youth. Getting outside of #Kabul is important to me. I met with civil society leaders who have long called for peace, and recognize that now is the time to finally attain it,” he said in a Twitter post.
Ambassador Khalilzad further added “President @ashrafghani’s Chief of Staff Rahimi joined me. Together we sat with provincial leaders, elders, women &activists to discuss their views. All Afghans have a stake in shaping #Afghanistan’s future and we should welcome all of these voices in the #AfghanPeaceProcess.” (Khaama Press)
