US officials confirm Mohib was summoned to State Dept

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: The US officials have confirmed that the National Security Adviser of Afghanistan Hamdullah Mohib was summoned to State Department over his remarks regarding U.S. reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan.

“Under Secretary for Political Affairs David Hale summoned Afghan National Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib March 14 to reject the public comments attributed to National Security Advisor Mohib criticizing the U.S. approach to reconciliation,” State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino said.

He also added that “Under Secretary Hale underscored the longstanding U.S. assistance and support to Afghanistan, and expressed our commitment to the Afghan government’s stability and full participation in the peace process.”

“He also reminded National Security Advisor Mohib that Special Representative Khalilzad represents the Secretary, and that attacks on Ambassador Khalilzad are attacks on the Department and only serve to hinder the bilateral relationship and the peace process,” Palladino added.

According to reports, NSA Mohib on Thursday told reporters in Washington that the ongoing talks in Qatar are not transparent, claiming that the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad has created an information vacuum between the government and ongoing talks.

Pointing towards Ambassador Khalilzad’s past efforts to nominate himself in presidential elections, Mohib went on to claim that the ongoing efforts by Ambassador Khalilzad could be seen as an attempt to establish an interim government under his leadership. (Khaama Press)