Afghan Taliban confirm they met with US envoy

Representatives of the Taliban informed ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad that the presence of foreign forces in the country was the biggest impediment to achieving sustainable peace in Afghanistan. (AP/file)

• In talks with Khalilzad, group discusses ways to facilitate peace process
• Claim US representative agreed to continue with diplomatic engagements in future

ISLAMABAD: A negotiating team of the Afghan Taliban’s political bureau extended the olive branch by meeting with the US’ special envoy for Afghanistan reconciliation in Doha on Friday, throwing light on the ongoing insurgency and discussing means to resolve it.
Pushing for peace in the war-torn country, Zabihullah Mujahid, the group’s spokesperson, said in an online statement released on Saturday that representatives of the Taliban informed ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad that the presence of foreign forces in the country was the biggest impediment to achieving sustainable peace in Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s statement added that Khalilzad agreed to more diplomatic engagements in the near future.