The US peace envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, on Thursday afternoon met with Indian officials and discussed the US peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

Khalilzad was accompanied by the senior director in the US National Security Council, Lisa Curtis, and the US ambassador to India, Mr. Ken Juster.

Khalilzad provided an update on the US peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan, saying: The US side recognized India’s constructive contribution in economic development, reconstruction and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, the statement read.

They laid importance to India’s crucial and continuing role in sustainable peace, security and stability in Afghanistan, it said.

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India’s minister of external affairs and NSA reiterated India’s continued support for strengthening peace, security, unity, democratic and inclusive polity and protection of rights of all sections of the Afghan society, including Afghan Hindus and Sikhs.

India is deeply concerned at the upsurge in violence and supports call for immediate ceasefire and need to assist the people of Afghanistan in dealing with coronavirus pandemic. India remains engaged in extending humanitarian food and medical supplies to Afghanistan to deal with the situation created by coronavirus, said the statement.

It was emphasized that putting an end to terrorist safe havens and sanctuaries is necessary for enduring and sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan, it added.

On Wednesday, Khalilzad met with the Taliban’s deputy leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Qatar and discussed the prisoner release, intra-Afghan talks and the US-Taliban peace agreement, Taliban’s spokesman Suhail Shaheen said.

The US State Department confirmed on Wednesday that Khalilzad departed on May 5 for travel to Doha, New Delhi, and Islamabad.