Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Peace, has met and held talks with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban`s foreign minister, during his latest visit to Kabul.

According to AnsarPress, the Taliban`s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the meeting focused on the "paths, opportunities, and challenges for developing relations between the Taliban and the United States."

The ministry quoted Amir Khan Muttaqi as saying that relations between the two sides have entered a new phase following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The statement also said that Khalilzad praised "security and progress" in Afghanistan and described the continuation of bilateral dialogue as important. Khalilzad has not yet commented publicly on the visit.

This marks Khalilzad`s fourth public trip to Kabul since the Taliban returned to power. Previously, he traveled to Kabul twice with Adam Boehler, the U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, holding talks on the release of American detainees.

In late Mizan (October), Khalilzad also visited Kabul alongside the head of a Saudi company and met with Taliban officials.

"What Is Khalilzad Seeking?"

Khalilzad`s repeated trips to Kabul-despite holding no official position in the U.S. government-have raised serious questions about the purpose of his visits.

Evidence and official Taliban statements indicate that one of the main objectives of these trips is for Khalilzad to act as an informal channel between Washington and the Taliban.

His joint visits with Adam Boehler were explicitly focused on the case of American detainees, a matter the U.S. government has acknowledged to a limited extent.

However, the scope of these trips appears to extend beyond the hostage issue. His recent meeting with Amir Khan Muttaqi and discussions about "developing relations between the Taliban and the United States" suggest that Khalilzad is seeking to keep a political engagement track with the Taliban alive-an engagement that officially halted after the U.S. withdrawal but appears to be continuing in practice.

His appearance alongside the head of a Saudi company has also raised speculation about the pursuit of economic interests, investments, or regional projects, although no details have been disclosed.

Some analysts believe Khalilzad is attempting to preserve his role as the architect of the Doha Agreement and to remain an influential actor in the Afghanistan file.

"Khalilzad and the Serious Allegation of Lobbying for the Taliban"

Khalilzad`s repeated visits to Kabul, along with some of his public remarks on Afghanistan, have led to accusations that he is lobbying on behalf of the Taliban.

A number of former politicians, civil society activists, and Afghan citizens argue that his positions in recent years have effectively contributed to legitimizing the Taliban.

For example, Khalilzad has repeatedly emphasized on X (formerly Twitter) the "necessity of engagement with the Taliban" and warned against a policy of complete isolation of the group.

Critics say that while the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on women, the media, and civil society, Khalilzad has rarely taken clear and critical positions on these issues.

The reported praise attributed to him regarding "security and progress" in Afghanistan-according to the Taliban foreign ministry-is seen by critics as another example of a soft approach that reinforces the Taliban`s narrative.

It is also worth recalling that during the Doha negotiations, Khalilzad described the Taliban as "a political reality" and stressed the need to reach an agreement with the group.

Many critics consider the Taliban`s return to power and the collapse of the former republic to be a direct result of that approach and hold Khalilzad responsible for its consequences.