US envoy eyes Afghan peace deal next year!

Zalmay Khalilzad, talks with local reporters at the US embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan

• The former US ambassador to Kabul has been spearheading American efforts to convince the Taleban to negotiate with the Afghan government.

US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said on Sunday he hoped the Taleban and Afghan government would strike a peace deal within five months - even as the militants inflict record high casualties on security forces.

Back in Kabul after a second round of regional meetings that are believed to have included the Taleban, Afghan-born Khalilzad said he remained "cautiously optimistic" for an end to the 17-year conflict.

The former US ambassador to Kabul has been spearheading American efforts to convince the Taleban to negotiate with the Afghan government.
But there are growing fears that any progress towards peace could be derailed by the April 20 presidential election, which is expected to be fiercely contested and marred by violence.

"I remain cautiously optimistic," Khalilzad told Afghan media. "I hope that the Taleban and other Afghans would use the (presidential) election as a deadline to achieve a peace agreement before then - that would be my hope."