The US State Department has said that Zalmay Khalilzad does not represent the United States, following his recent meeting with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul.
In comments to Afghanistan International on Wednesday, the department said Khalilzad is not a US government employee and that his recent activities are carried out in a personal capacity.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday that Khalilzad, the former US special envoy for Afghanistan, had arrived in Kabul and met Muttaqi.
After the meeting, Muttaqi said that engagement between the Taliban and the United States had effectively entered a new phase following the withdrawal of foreign forces and the end of the war in Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s decision to receive Khalilzad at the level of foreign minister suggested the group views him as a potential intermediary, relying on his experience and contacts to help improve relations between the Taliban and Washington.
However, the US State Department dismissed such assumptions. Speaking to Tajuddin Soroush, a reporter for Afghanistan International, a spokesperson said Zalmay Khalilzad is not an employee of the US government and therefore does not represent it.
The spokesperson added that all of his activities are undertaken in a personal capacity.
Khalilzad has previously travelled to Afghanistan with US officials to help secure the release of American prisoners held by the Taliban.
According to the Taliban, Muttaqi told Khalilzad that opportunities exist in several areas to expand relations between the two sides and that sustained dialogue could help advance those efforts.
