US Envoy Arrives In Pakistan For Talks On The Taliban

Afghan security forces inspect site following Taliban attack (Picture: PA).

A US special envoy has arrived in Pakistan for a meeting with political and military leaders about bringing the Taliban to peace talks.

US diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad's visit to Islamabad comes a day after US president Donald Trump wrote a letter to Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan, seeking his cooperation.

The war in Afghanistan is the second longest war in US history, behind the Vietnam war.

Mr Khalilzad will also travel to Afghanistan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Belgium, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in a renewed effort to bring about an end to the conflict.

The US and Afghanistan have long accused Pakistan of turning a blind eye to the Taliban, whose leadership is based in Pakistan.

Islamabad says it has little influence on the Taliban but it will play a role in finding a peaceful solution in Afghanistan.