US appoints Khalilzad as special adviser on seeking reconciliation in war-battered Afghanistan

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday announced to appoint veteran diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad as the Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation to lead America's efforts to support, facilitate, and participate in a peace process between government and the Taliban.

"There is no one better suited for this duty than an expert diplomat like ambassador Khalilzad, who was born and raised in Afghanistan, and has previously served as the US ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq, and the United Nations, Pompeo said in a memo to State Department staff on Friday.

Under the George W Bush administration, Khalilzad had played a key role in shaping the US' Afghan policy. He was the highest ranking Muslim American in the Bush Administration.

In the memo, Pompeo said he was confident in Khalilzad's ability to execute the mission.

"I am confident in Ambassador Khalilzad's ability to execute this mission, and we are grateful for his willingness to step back into public service. As we welcome him back to the Department, let us rededicate ourselves to achieving a durable peace in Afghanistan that will ensure security for the American people," Pompeo said.

As per the memo, Khalilzad will "lead US efforts to support, facilitate, and participate in a peace process" between government and the Taliban.

Khalilzad has accompanied Pompeo to Pakistan earlier this month.

"Ambassador Khalilzad is going to join the State Department team to assist us in the reconciliation effort, so he will come on and be the State Department's lead person for that purpose," Pompeo had told travelling reporters on his way to Pakistan.

Pompeo had said that Khalilzad will "be full-time focused on developing the opportunities to get the Afghans and the Taliban to come to a reconciliation. That will be his singular mission statement.