The US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad arrived in Kabul to meet with Afghan officials ahead of the next round of negotiations with Taliban in an attempt to end the more than 17-year war, AFP reported.

Khalilzad stated that had already met with some government representatives responsible for the Afghan peace process.  “We discussed the urgency of making progress on intra-Afghan dialogue,” Khalilzad said.

Khalilzad’s last round of negotiations with the Taliban in Doha in February originally had to last two days, but lasted 16 days. Khalilzad said that "real success" had been achieved.

The State Department said earlier that Khalilzad’s trip was “part of an overall effort to facilitate a peace process that brings all Afghan parties together in inclusive intra-Afghan negotiations.” But the government of Kabul has not participated in the negotiations so far. The Taliban refuse to conduct negotiations with the authorities of Afghanistan, including the government of Pre­sident Ashraf Ghani.