ISLAMABAD, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani senior officials on Friday assured support to visiting U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad for his peace efforts in war-shattered Afghanistan.
Khalilzad met Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Khalilzad arrived in Pakistan on Friday morning after holding a series of meetings with Taliban political representatives in Qatar on a proposal of violence reduction.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said that Khalilzad and Qureshi had reviewed efforts for peace in Afghanistan and also reviewed the overall regional situation.
"While exchanging views on efforts to establish peace in Afghanistan, the foreign minister reiterated Pakistan's support and facilitating role in the Afghan peace and reconciliation process," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said in a tweet.
Meanwhile, a foreign ministry statement said Khalilzad briefed the foreign minister about the on-going peace talks with the Taliban and appreciated Pakistan's role.
For his part, Qureshi said the signing of the peace deal between the Taliban and the United States will pave the way for intra-Afghan dialogue, which will be a good omen not only for Afghanistan but also for the peace and security of the whole region.
He said Pakistan will continue to support the establishment of peace in Afghanistan in accordance with the collective responsibility.
Both sides agreed to continue consultations for the joint peace efforts, the statement said.
The U.S. envoy also met with Bajwa and discussed matters of mutual interest including the overall regional security situation and the ongoing Afghan reconciliation process.
An army statement said Khalilzad "thanked Pakistan for facilitating the process towards the mutual objective of peace in the region."
Khalilzad's visit to Pakistan is amid reports that the Taliban and the United States are holding talks on details of a proposal for a brief "reduction of violence" that will create an environment for the signing of a peace deal.
