A Washington-based research center has found that almost half of all American’s feel the US’s second longest war – Afghanistan – has after 17 years not reached its desired goals.

On 7 October 2001 the US launched Operation Enduring Freedom with the United Kingdom – in an effort to arrest leaders of al-Qaeda, including Osama bin Laden, who had been given sanctuary by the then Taliban government.

The US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad arrived in Kabul on Sunday as part of a 10-day journey to Kabul, Islamabad, Doha, United Arab Emirates and Riyadh.

Khalilzad told TOLOnews after arriving in Kabul that he has come to Afghanistan to break the stalemate regarding the war and to bring peace to the war-torn country. He did not give details about his plans but he has solid knowledge and understanding of the situation in the country and in the challenges facing the peace process.