Washington wants to see peace in Afghanistan: US peace envoy

US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has accelerated his peace efforts in recent weeks amid reports that the US is planning to begin withdrawing its troops in the summer.

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US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said on Saturday that Washington was ready to “address legitimate concerns” of all Afghan sides in order to restore peace in Afghanistan.

Since being appointed in September, Khalilzad has met with all sides, including the Taliban, Afghan officials and Pakistan’s political and military leadership in efforts aimed at finding a negotiated end to America’s longest war in neighboring Afghanistan.

The Taliban currently control nearly half of Afghanistan, and are more powerful than at any time since the 2001 US-led invasion.

Khalilzad took to Twitter on Saturday saying: “I see that many are concerned that the United States is willing to both talk and fight. Let me be clear: the US wants #peace.”

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He said it was urgent that fighting ends in Afghanistan but “pursuing peace still means we fight as needed.”

Khalilzad is currently on a visit to Islamabad and has met with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and the country’s powerful army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa to discuss how to restore peace in Afghanistan.