In a testimony before the US Senate’s Appropriations Committee, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo assured that the Afghan government will be a meaningful participant in any peace deal.

When asked about the US Senate Chairman Lindsey Graham about his assurance the Afghan government will be a meaningful participant in any peace deal, Pompeo assured that the Afghan government will be “more than that and that they (the Afghan government) will be at the center”.  “It will be Afghan-led,” he said.

Pompeo said the United States continues its efforts to make sure there will no footprint for al Qaeda and Daesh outfits in Afghanistan.

He also assured that the outcome will be peace with dignity for women in Afghanistan and that “making also sure that America’s counter-terrorism interests are protected as well”.

His remarks come as the Afghan government and Afghan politicians are preparing to attend a meeting with Taliban members in Qatar which according to officials is a platform for exchange of views between “different groups of Afghans” on the peace process.