U.S., NATO Would Leave Afghanistan ‘Together’: U.S. Envoy

U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad says the United States and allies have come in Afghanistan “together” and would leave Afghanistan “together”.

The U.S. has so far held at least five round of peace talks with the Taliban as part of the diplomatic efforts to end the nearly two decades of war in Afghanistan.

In the latest round of talks which ended on March 11, the two sides reported of progress but have not reached yet to a final deal on withdrawal of U.S.-led international forces and arrangements that the Taliban ensures militants would not use Afghanistan to stage attacks against the U.S. and its allies.

“Working closely with NATO and other partners and allies has been a priority from day one. We came together. We will coordinate adjustments in our presence together. And if we leave, we will leave together. Together for peace and security for Afghanistan and for us all, Khalilzad said in a tweet.

It comes days after NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the future of NATO’s mission in Afghanistan would depend on the outcomes of the peace talks with the Taliban, but he underlined that the negotiations are far from over.

“It’s too early to pre-empt the outcome of the talks,” Stoltenberg said. “There’s still much to be done before a peace deal is in place.”