The US peace envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad on June 1 said that “We’re optimistic that finally we are moving forward to the start of the intra-Afghan negotiations”, reports Tolo News.
Khalilzad is hopeful that the violence will stay low and the intra-Afghan negotiations will begin with the Taliban. “I believe we are in a more hopeful moment that validates our approach," said Khalilzad, citing the Eid ceasefire called for by the Taliban, which was reciprocated by the government. "By all accounts violence was down dramatically during Eid,” the US envoy said.
“Since the Eid ceasefire, violence has been relatively low. It hasn’t gone back to pre-Eid circumstances or conditions. And at the same time the government of Afghanistan in response to the ceasefire and the reduction of violence that has taken place has accelerated the release of prisoners,” he mentioned.
On the political crisis in Afghanistan, Khalilzad said: “The political crisis in Afghanistan that produced two presidential inaugurations, now it’s been resolved, and the two leaders are working together on an agenda for peace.”