‘No military solution’ to conflict in Afghanistan, US envoy says

US Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad renews push for negotiated settlement as violence in Afghanistan rages.

The war in Afghanistan “has no legitimacy” and a political solution is the only way forward, the United States’ special envoy to Afghanistan has said, as violence rages between Afghan government forces and Taliban fighters. Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum on Tuesday morning, US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad said Washington expects both sides to focus on a political settlement amid weeks of “very concerning” violence. “We believe that there is no military solution,” Khalilzad said. “Ultimately for Afghanistan to have peace and stability there needs to be a negotiated political settlement that has broad support in Afghanistan and broad support in the region and beyond.”