WASHINGTON — The Trump administration’s special envoy for Afghanistan is returning to the country after stops in Europe and the Middle East for an extended diplomatic tour aimed at pushing a U.S. peace initiative. Khalilzad told an audience at the U.S. Institute of Peace on Friday that he hopes a final deal can be clinched before Afghanistan’s presidential election in July. He stressed, however that many issues remain to be resolved and that it must be a package deal. So far, though, he noted that the Taliban have been unwilling to take this step, arguing that the government is illegitimate. U.S. troops invaded in October 2001 and toppled the Taliban government within weeks after Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network launched the 9-11 attacks from Afghanistan.

Source: National Post February 10, 2019 17:28 UTC