The U.S. State Department has stated that Zalmay Khalilzad does not represent the United States in his recent trips to Kabul and that these visits are personal in nature.

According to AnsarPress, following the recent meeting between Zalmay Khalilzad-former U.S. Special Representative for Afghan Peace-and Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban government`s foreign minister, the U.S. State Department told several media outlets that Khalilzad does not represent the U.S. government during his recent travels.

The department emphasized that all of Khalilzad`s activities have been carried out in a personal capacity.

Earlier, the Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that during the meeting between Muttaqi and Khalilzad, the two sides exchanged views on the ways, opportunities, and challenges of developing relations between Afghanistan and the United States. Amir Khan Muttaqi stated that more than four years after the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan and the end of the war, engagement between the Taliban government and the United States has entered a new phase.

Previously, during trips to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad had been involved-alongside U.S. officials-in efforts related to the release of American citizens detained by the Taliban. However, U.S. officials stress that he currently holds no official position or role within U.S. government policy.