ISLAMABAD: The US Special Representative for Afghan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad met Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad on Wednesday, seeking Pakistan’s assistance as part of the US effort to end the 17-year conflict in Afghanistan.Khalilzad arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday, a day after Khan received a letter from President Donald Trump seeking Islamabad’s cooperation in the Afghan peace process. This is Khalilzad’s third visit to Pakistan since September. Ahead of assuming charge as US special envoy, he was known for his staunch views against Pakistan. He had always held Pakistan responsible for instability in Afghanistan and accused it of harbouring terrorists in its tribal areas. Until recently, Khalilzad had maintained that Taliban insurgency was Islamabad-driven.Given Khalilzad’s views about Pakistan, the human rights minister Dr Shireen Mazari tweeted ahead of his visit, “This time perhaps you (Zalmay Khalizad) should bring a less arrogant and hostile mindset when you visit Islamabad!”Despite his anti-Taliban and anti-Pakistan perspective, Khalilzad has succeeded in bringing insurgents to the negotiating table. A delegation of Taliban is also currently present in Islamabad which has arrived from Qatar to hold dialogue with Khalilzad, his team and Pakistani authorities, a senior Taliban leader revealed. The claim, however, has neither been confirmed nor denied by Pakistani officials.Trump’s letter and Khalilzad’s visit has slightly opened a window for mending strained ties between Islamabad and Washington. Relations between the US and Pakistan had started deteriorating in 2011 and touched a new low in January this year when Trump suspended US security assistance to Islamabad.