The US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad held a meeting with Taliban's deputy leader Mullah Baradar and chief negotiator Abdul Hakim on Saturday.<br />''<br />''As per reports, they discussed the future US-Taliban peace process and release of the remaining prisoners.<br />''<br />''Notably, the first meeting of the Leadership Committee of the Afghanistan High Council for National Reconciliation was held in Qatar on Saturday.<br />''<br />''The United States has welcomed the formation and the first Leadership Committee meeting of the Afghanistan High Council for National Reconciliation.<br />''<br />''Reacting to the meeting, Zalmay Khalilzad tweeted that this Committee will be an authoritative body for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as it negotiates the terms of a peace agreement, power-sharing, and a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire with the Taliban.<br />''<br />''He added that the Islamic Republic and Taliban teams are now in the next phase of negotiations, having started with their first meeting on the agenda in Doha.<br />''<br />''Khalilzad said that Afghans are coming together and taking steps to make progress toward peace.<br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">He added that the steps taken in recent days are positive and hopeful and urged both sides to accelerate their peace efforts to end the country's long war.</span><br />