There have been conflicting reports about the US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad’s meetings with President Ashraf Ghani and former president Hamid Karzai. Khalilzad is in Kabul to hold talks with leaders and politicians here on the peace process.

Karzai’s office said in a statement that the US representative “expressed his optimism about the developments and progress” in the peace process, and said he hoped an agreement will be reached with the Taliban.

Ghani’s office reported a less optimistic briefing from Khalilzad.

In this episode of the program, host Karim Amini discusses the topic with the following panelists:

• Faramarz Tamanna, a researcher of international security

• Fawzia Kofi, head of Movement for Change in Afghanistan

• Ali Ahmad Osmani, former cabinet minister and close to Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah