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Pompeo in Afghanistan Amid Political Crisis, Peace Talks

VOA News

   U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made an unannounced visit Monday
   toKabul where he is expected to push both for advancing Afghan peace
   talks and for a resolution to a political crisis following the
   country's presidential election.

   Pompeo'sschedule includes separate and combined talks with President
   Ashraf Ghani and rival AbdullahAbdullah.

   Ghani was declared the official election winner, while Abdullah has
   challenged the result.Each manheldhisown swearing-in ceremony.

   Pompeo's visit also comes a day after the United States and Qatar
   helped Afghan and Taliban officials hold their own talks through video
   conferencing.

   ZalmayKhalilzad, the U.S. peace envoy for Afghanistan, said both the
   Afghan and Taliban sides "conveyed their strong commitment to a
   reduction of violence, intra-Afghan negotiations, and a comprehensive
   and permanent ceasefire," while agreeing to hold more talks during the
   next two days.

   The United States and Taliban reached their own peace deal that called
   for a reduction in U.S. forces in Afghanistan and for the Taliban to
   engage in peace talks with the Afghan government.

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