US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad holds meeting with Taliban's deputy leader Mullah Baradar

The US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad held a meeting with Taliban's deputy leader Mullah Baradar and chief negotiator Abdul Hakim on Saturday.

As per reports, they discussed the future US-Taliban peace process and release of the remaining prisoners.

Notably, the first meeting of the Leadership Committee of the Afghanistan High Council for National Reconciliation was held in Qatar on Saturday.

The United States has welcomed the formation and the first Leadership Committee meeting of the Afghanistan High Council for National Reconciliation.

Reacting to the meeting, Zalmay Khalilzad tweeted that this



Committee will be an authoritative body for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as it negotiates the terms of a peace agreement, power-sharing, and a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire with the Taliban.

He added that the Islamic Republic and Taliban teams are now in the next phase of negotiations, having started with their first meeting on the agenda in Doha.

Khalilzad said that Afghans are coming together and taking steps to make progress toward peace.

He added that the steps taken in recent days are positive and hopeful and urged both sides to accelerate their peace efforts to end the country’s long war.