The US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad in a series of tweets on Friday welcomed the holding of the consultative Loya Jirga on peace and said that the Jirga offers a historic platform to remove obstacles in the way of intra-Afghan talks.

“It is a historic opportunity to remove the last hurdle to direct peace talks. A positive outcome will mean a reduction in violence and Afghans immediately coming together at the negotiating table,” Khalilzad tweeted.

“Afghans have waited far too long for this moment. We wish the Jirga participants success in their discussions and urge them not to allow those who prefer the status quo and seek to complicate the path to peace to manipulate the process,” he said.

Khalilzad called on all Afghan sides to come together and seize the opportunity.

“The historic opportunity for peace must be seized by all sides. And as they do, the US will stand with them,” he said.

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