The U.S. State Department told Deeyar TV that former U.S. diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad “is not a U.S. government employee” and therefore “does not represent the U.S. government,” following his recent visit to Kabul.
A State Department spokesperson, responding to questions from Deeyar TV about Khalilzad’s recent activities, said that “all of his activities are undertaken in a personal capacity.”
The Taliban’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum on Tuesday signed a $200 million contract with international company Delta for exploration of the Kashk-Tirpal oil block in the western provinces of Herat and Badghis.
The block covers 22,000 square kilometres. The exploration period is set at eight years, while the contract will run for 25 years, according to the Taliban ministry.
Khalilzad’s presence at the signing ceremony and his remarks there drew particular attention. The ceremony was attended by Taliban Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdul Ghani Baradar and Taliban Minister of Mines and Petroleum Hedayatullah Badri.
Khalilzad described the agreement as a “major, positive and significant development”, saying it showed that the Taliban were ready to engage in trade and had succeeded in attracting “significant” investment in the development of Afghanistan’s natural resources.
He also met separately with Baradar. According to a Taliban statement, the two discussed opportunities for foreign companies to invest in Afghanistan. Khalilzad said companies from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Azerbaijan and Norway were interested in investment opportunities in various sectors of Afghanistan, particularly oil and gas exploration and extraction.
Deeyar TV asked the State Department to comment on Khalilzad’s recent activities, including his meetings with Baradar and Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as well as his participation in the signing ceremony for the Delta contract.
Deeyar TV also asked whether Khalilzad’s positions reflected those of the United States and whether he was speaking on behalf of the U.S. government.
“Zalmay Khalilzad is not a U.S. government employee. As such, he does not represent the U.S. government. All of his activities are undertaken in a personal capacity,” the State Department spokesperson said.
Although Khalilzad no longer holds an official position in the U.S. government, he has travelled to Afghanistan several times in recent months and met with Taliban officials.
Last year, he travelled to Kabul with the chief executive of Delta and met with Baradar.
Khalilzad played a role in U.S.-Taliban talks over the release of American prisoners and travelled to Kabul with Adam Boehler, the U.S. president’s special envoy for hostage affairs.
