Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special envoy for Afghanistan, has returned to Kabul for the fourth time since the Taliban took power.
In a statement, the Taliban-run foreign ministry said Khalilzad met their Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to discuss “ways, opportunities and challenges” related to bilateral relations between the two sides.
Muttaqi was quoted as saying that relations had entered a “new phase” since the withdrawal of foreign forces and the end of the war more than four years ago, adding that opportunities existed to expand ties through continued dialogue.
The statement said Khalilzad praised what it described as improved security in Afghanistan and progress in reconstruction, and stressed the importance of continued engagement and meetings between the two sides.
Khalilzad has not publicly commented on the visit, and the purpose of his trip remains unclear.
Khalilzad previously travelled to Kabul on March 20–21, 2025, as part of a US delegation alongside Adam Boehler, holding talks with Taliban officials on prisoner releases and bilateral issues. That visit was the first publicly acknowledged trip by a US delegation including Khalilzad since the Taliban seized power in 2021.
He returned again on Sept. 13–14, 2025, as part of another delegation led by Boehler, with discussions focusing on Americans detained in Afghanistan and other bilateral concerns. A further visit was reported on Oct. 22, 2025, when Khalilzad held informal talks with Muttaqi on humanitarian issues and broader relations.
The meeting comes as US policy toward Afghanistan under Taliban rule remains under review following the return of President Donald Trump to office.
At a United Nations Security Council meeting on Dec. 10, the US representative said the Taliban were responsible for the suffering of the Afghan people, describing them as an unreliable partner and accusing them of obstructing international assistance.
Washington has said its priorities in Afghanistan remain the protection of US citizens and US national security.
