Khalilzad says U.S.-Taliban relations hampered by American prisoners

KABUL: Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. special envoy for peace in Afghanistan, has stated that his recent trip to Afghanistan was personal and did not carry any specific message from Washington. He mentioned that the purpose of his visit was to discuss steps for improving relations between the U.S. and the Taliban government. In an exclusive interview with a private Afghan television station, Khalilzad clarified that his advice to the Taliban government during this trip reflected his personal views and did not represent any official U.S. message. Khalilzad pointed out that a significant obstacle in U.S.-Taliban relations is the detention of two American citizens in Afghanistan, who remain imprisoned without trial. He noted that the Taliban have also acknowledged that these two Americans are still in their custody. He stated that the reasons for the detention of these two Americans are unclear and expressed that it is a source of frustration for Afghanistan. Khalilzad added that discussions regarding the release of these prisoners are ongoing.