Afghanistan conflict can be settled only via political settlement - U.S. embassy to Russia
MOSCOW. Dec 7 (Interfax) - United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad reaffirmed Washington's position at negotiations at the Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday that a solution to the problem of Afghanistan must be found by this country's people without interference from the outside, the U.S. embassy in Moscow said on Friday.
"Special Representative Khalilzad reiterated that a resolution to the conflict in Afghanistan can only be achieved through a negotiated political settlement and that Afghans must ultimately determine their own future rather than have one dictated by outside powers," the embassy said in a statement.
"Both the United States and Russia would benefit from a political settlement in Afghanistan, which would help to reduce terrorist and narcotics threats, bolster economic cooperation, and end the 40-year long war in the country," it said.
Khalilzad met in Moscow on Friday with Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Second Asian Department and presidential representative for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov and Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov "to discuss supporting an inclusive peace process in Afghanistan," it said.