US Afghan peace envoy visits China as push to bring war to an end gains momentum

Zalmay Khalilzad arrives in Beijing days after reporting ‘substantive’ progress in all the main areas needed for a peace deal

China has already hosted talks between the Taliban and Afghanistan’s government and is looking to boost its influence in the region

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US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad recently finished the “most productive” yet talks with the Taliban. Photo: AP

Published: 5:49pm, 11 Jul 2019Updated: 5:48pm, 11 Jul 2019

The US peace envoy to Afghanistan is visiting Beijing, a US embassy spokesman said on Thursday, as indications grew of a new momentum in efforts to end Afghanistan’s 18-year war and push by China to boost its influence in the region.

The spokesman gave no further details about the previously scheduled visit by Zalmay Khalilzad, but it came just days after he said that for the first time he could report “substantive” progress on all four issues that are key to a peace agreement.

Khalilzad said the latest round of talks with the Taliban had been the “most productive” yet, and had broadened to include a timeline for both intra-Afghan negotiations and a ceasefire.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last month that Washington was hopeful a peace agreement to bring an end to the war could be reached before September 1.

Reports in Afghanistan said a Taliban delegation and former President Hamid Karzai had also recently visited Beijing.