US envoy for Afghanistan Khalilzad steps down from his post following chaotic evacuation

United States envoy to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilz has stepped down from his position, just two months after Taliban's swift annexation of Kabul. decision was announced by US State Department on Monday, ding that Khalilz will be replaced by his Deputy Special Representative Tom West. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement asserted that  West will work closely with US embassy, which is now based in Doha, on US interests in Afghanistan.

It is to mention that West has earlier served on Biden's national security when  latter was Vice President in former US president Barack Obama's regime. He is now expected to le diplomatic efforts, vise Secretary and Assistant Secretary for Bureau of South and Central Asian affairs and coordinate closely with US Embassy in Kabul, as per official statement.

According to CNN, Khalilz's decision to step down came after he wrote a letter to US State Secretary Antony Blinken seeking release from government service. Blinken expressed his gratitude to special envoy for his "deces of service to American people." It is to be noted that Khalilz h decided to step down in May after Biden announced a complete troop withdrawal by US from Afghanistan. His stepping down also comes amid State Department Inspector General's announcement of opening a series of investigations into US' "hasty" withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Khalilz led Doha Agreements

Afghanistan-born diplomatic veteran Zalmay Khalilz is well-known for his contributions during talks with Taliban in Qatar that resulted in Doha Agreement under Donald Trump ministration. As known, agreement was executed by Biden leing to a chaotic evacuation of US forces and American citizens and a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. In interviews and in his resignation letter described to  AP, Khalilz lamented that withdrawal process was far from as planned and was conducted in haste. As per New York Times, Khalilz was a part of ex-President George W. Bush ministration that planned to eliminate Taliban in 2002.

"Political arrangement between Afghan Government and Taliban did not go forward as envisaged. reasons for this are too complex and I will share my thoughts in coming days and weeks, after leaving government service," Khalilz stated in a letter to Blinken as per BBC.

(With inputs from AP)

(Image: AP)