US proposes new summit with Taliban on interim Afghan government

The Biden administration’s top envoy to Afghanistan proposed forming a conference of Afghan and Taliban leaders to hammer out an interim government in a sign that the White House would like peace talks to move faster.

The idea was proposed this week by Zalmay Khalilzad, the government’s top peace negotiator for Afghanistan, according to The Wall Street Journal. The new format would likely push aside a peace deal that was negotiated between the Trump administration and the Taliban and also likely delay a troop withdrawal from the country.

The Afghan government is “reviewing any possible way to get to a dignified peace for our people,” senior Afghan government negotiator Nader Nadery told the Journal. “This republic is built on sacrifices of a large number of our people and our international partners. A dignified peace must protect these.”

The National Security Council referred The Hill to the State Department, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The White House downplayed the proposal to the Journal, saying that Khalilzad is merely exploring an array of options to move forward.

The proposal comes as President Biden considers his next moves for Afghanistan.

The administration has poured cold water on the prospect of having a full troop withdrawal by May, as laid out in the Trump-era peace deal, due to ongoing violence in Afghanistan. The Taliban, which has waged attacks against Afghan troops, has threatened to renew strikes on U.S. forces if the withdrawal does not occur.

“I urge all parties to choose the path towards peace. The violence must decrease, now,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said last month.

“I told our allies that no matter what the outcome of our review, the United States will not undertake a hasty or disorderly withdrawal from Afghanistan,” he added, referring to talks with NATO allies. “There will be no surprises. We will consult each other, consult together and decide together and act together.”

Amid the stall, Khalilzad also reportedly suggested appointing a mediator to help move along the peace process between the Taliban and Afghan officials.

Updated at 10:27 p.m.