WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has departed for Turkey and the region, the U.S. State Department said on Saturday, in a push to encourage Afghan parties to accelerate negotiations to end conflict in the country.
The State Department said in a statement that Khalilzad began the trip on Thursday.
“He will engage the two sides on their preparatory efforts for talks on a political settlement that produces a permanent ceasefire and a durable and just peace,” the State Department said, referring to the Afghan government and the Taliban.
(Reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by Jan Harvey)
