On Friday US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said that Washington will soon announce a high-level meeting of representatives from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan to encourage trade and development in that region.
The United States, which will also participate in the meeting, is also launching a fund to encourage investments in the South and Central Asian region.
Ambassador Khalilzad is the Trump administration’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation and has played a key role in negotiating a peace deal with the Taliban with Pakistan’s support.
The deal, which calls for a total withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan by May 2021, was signed in February.
The Trump administration wants to withdraw most of its troops from Afghanistan within this framework but faces strong resistance from the Pentagon which opposes an unconditional pullout.
1/3 It was very good to see Foreign Minister Kamilov @usbekmfa in Washington DC.
— U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad (@US4AfghanPeace) November 19, 2020
Along with Special Representative Irgashev and Amb @JavlonVakhabov, we discussed the current status of #Afghanistan Peace Negotiations and the importance of an immediate reduction in violence. pic.twitter.com/U8u37TyUE5
2/3 We also discussed the region’s role in helping the Afghan peace process and recommitted to the importance of regional economic connectivity, trade and development facilitated by peace in Afghanistan, benefiting Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
— U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad (@US4AfghanPeace) November 19, 2020
3/3 We look forward to soon announcing a regional investment fund and a high-level meeting of representatives from the United States, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan to discuss, connectivity, trade and development initiatives.
— U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad (@US4AfghanPeace) November 19, 2020
