Pakistani officials hold talks with US envoy on Afghan peace

Pakistani senior officials on Friday assured support to visiting US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, for his peace efforts in war-shattered Afghanistan, a media report said.

Khalilzad met Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Xinhua reported.

Khalilzad arrived in Pakistan on Friday morning after holding a series of meetings with Taliban political representatives in Qatar on a proposal of reduction in violence.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said that Khalilzad and Qureshi had reviewed efforts for peace in Afghanistan and also reviewed the overall regional situation.

"While exchanging views on efforts to establish peace in Afghanistan, the foreign minister reiterated Pakistan's support and facilitating role in the Afghan peace and reconciliation process," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said in a tweet.

Meanwhile, a foreign ministry statement said Khalilzad briefed the foreign minister about the ongoing peace talks with the Taliban and appreciated Pakistan's role.

For his part, Qureshi said the signing of the peace deal between the Taliban and the United States will pave the way for intra-Afghan dialogue, which will be a good omen not only for Afghanistan but also for the peace and security of the whole region.IANS