U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad held meetings in Qatar to discuss the economic prosperity for a peaceful Afghanistan on Friday.
Accompanied by U.S. International Development Finance Corporation CEO Adam Boehler, Khalilzad met development groups like the Qatar Investment Authority and Qatar Fund For Development and conferred on “the possibility of co-investing in Afghan projects to consolidate peace and unlock regional prosperity.”
If there is peace, “the potential to amplify investment impact in Afghanistan with like-minded partners is real,” Khalilzad wrote in his tweet about the meetings.
Khalilzad also met the Taliban deputy and chief negotiator Mullah Baradar and his team in Doha.
“We underscored the economic development opportunities that will follow a sustainable peace,” Khalilzad said, adding, “We agreed developing plans in support of peace can never start too early, assuming the two sides can overcome final hurdles on the path to intra-Afghan negotiations.”
“The Taliban recognize all Afghans will have to make compromises in order to draw in the required investment in Afghanistan’s future,” the U.S. envoy concluded.
Zabihullah Mujahid, Taliban’s spokesperson also issued a statement about the meeting and said it focused on the commencement of the Afghan peace process, the swift completion of the prisoner swap and the economic strategies and plans for the financial growth, reconstruction and development of Afghanistan.
Earlier this week, Khalilzad also discussed the “economic benefits of peace” when he spoke with President Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation.
“A sustainable peace can mean investment with less risk, lower cost and faster capital deployment,” he wrote about the mutual views shared at the meeting.
“We discussed the importance of quick-hit programs as well as longer term infrastructure programs that will provide significant employment opportunities. Power and health care are two critical areas that merit support. They help with economic development and improve peoples’ quality of life,” the U.S. ambassador tweeted.
“Forward economic progress cannot be assumed. Investment is possible only if Afghan leaders make the decisions conducive for economic development.”
“Delay provides opportunities for spoilers,” decided the three leaders as they spoke about the immediate steps that need to be taken for the start of the intra-Afghan negotiations.
Khalilzad’s latest trip started on June 28 where his aim was to urge support for all Afghans to meet their commitments ahead of the intra-Afghan negotiations while discussing the prospects of economic growth.
