The US envoy for Afghan peace Zalmay Khalilzad has expressed hopes that the August 12 Eid Al-Adha will be the last Eid Al-Adha where Afghanistan is at war, reports Khamma Press on August 12. Khalilzad in a Twitter post said, “…I hope this is the last Eid where #Afghanistan is at war. I know Afghans yearn for peace. We stand with them and are working hard toward a lasting & honorable peace agreement and a sovereign Afghanistan which poses no threat to any other country.”
Meanwhile, Zalmay Khalilzad, in another Tweet on August 12 stated that that he has concluded the talks with the Taliban which began on August 3, 2019, and that they were productive, reports Tolo News. He said he is returning to Washington DC for consultations on next steps in the peace process. The US and the Taliban negotiators on August 11 wrapped up the eighth round of talks in Doha. A Taliban ‘spokesman' Suhail Shaheen said in a tweet that negotiators from the two sides are now reaching their leaders to consult about the details of the topics which came under discussion in the recent talks between the US Special Representative and the Taliban delegation.
Further, President Ashraf Ghani after Eid Al-Adha prayers on August 12 at the Presidential Palace assured that peace is coming to the country and said there is no doubt in it, Tolo News reports. “Peace is the demand of every Afghan and there is no doubt that peace is coming. Peace with the dignity of every Afghan,” Ghani said.