(MENAFN- Afghanistan Times) The US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation
Zalmay Khalilzad is making his best to make agree all Afghan segments and
leaders on a formula of peace and reconciliation before of coming Presidential
elections scheduled to be held in July. In his address to a gathering at the US
Institute for Peace on Friday,Khalilzad said the United States is hoping
Afghanistan can strike a peace agreement including the Taliban before the
presidential elections.'It will be better for Afghanistan if we could get
a peace agreement before the election,' Khalilzad said, adding that there
remained 'a lot of work' to do. But Khalilzad has made it clear "We are
after a peace agreement, not a withdrawal agreement. A peace agreement can
allow withdrawal.'But at the same time he admitted, "elections make
the peace agreement more complicated".Khalilzad, who held talks with
Taliban representatives four times in the last four months, has expressed
cautious optimism about the prospect of a deal, and even announced a draft
framework, but stressed nothing had been finalized. Little before, first ever
intra Afghan dialogues concluded at Moscow, which is being described
"constructive" by some participants of the meeting. Khalilzad has
expedited peace efforts when couple of months back,the US President
Donald Trump pushes to end the Afghan conflict, where about 14,000 US troops
are still deployed and which has seen countless thousands of civilian and
military deaths, as well as an infusion of more than $1 trillion in US cash
into the country. And now Khalilzad made his remarks of going to strike a peace
deal amongst the Afghans before of coming July Presidential elections. The US
president Donald Trump in his annual State of the Union speech on Tuesday,
Trump said the time has come "to at least try for peace." The
opposition Taliban are insisting on a new constitution in Afghanistan and
reluctant to become part of the present political process. Whereas some other
leading Afghan leaders are in favour of approaching the traditional Loya Jirga
of Afghanistan, which they believe to be the proper forum for settling such
issues. But President Ghani along with a few others are thinking on different
lines. Even Taliban leaders are reluctant to talk with President Ashraf Ghani
government. On such grounds, the suitable way out is nothing except approaching
the traditional Loya Jirga, which is due since previous year. Taliban could
easily be made agree to attend the Loya Jirga whereas they could easily express
their views regarding future. Now when the major breakthrough made in Moscow,
then there is no any matter to oppose or reject the proposal for convening of
Loya Jirga or to go for delay in Presidential elections. Zalmay Khalilzad is
going ahead very peace and he deserves help and support from each and every
Afghan who wants peace and harmony in war affected motherland.
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