US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad has said that discussion is underway on a new date to hold the intra-Afghan negotiations.

“We want to get to the intra-Afghan negotiations as soon as possible, and there has been a discussion of dates both in the agreement – that date was missed – and now a new date is under discussion.  Intra-Afghan negotiations are the only path to an enduring peace among Afghans,” he told a news briefing.

The US envoy added the conflict in Afghanistan needed to be resolved politically and that the warring sides should push the peace process forward.

“Although the recent violence has raised questions about the peace process, and the path to peace, as Morgan mentioned, is not straight and there are challenges and difficulties – we have known this from the beginning – but there is no alternative to pushing forward with peace.  There is consensus, both in Afghanistan and internationally, that there is no military solution to the war in Afghanistan; that a political solution, a peace agreement among Afghans, is the only realistic option at the present time,” he added.

Arezo News – Salimi