Islamabad, January 29: Russia's special envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday to discuss the Afghan peace process, in the wake of the US and Taliban agreeing on a framework deal to end the 17-year-old conflict in Afghanistan.

The diplomat is visiting the country following Russiaโ€™s wish to discuss the Afghan peace process. He was met by senior officials of the Foreign Office and Russian Embassy, Pakistan Today reported. He will hold talks with Pakistanโ€™s top civil and military leadership at the Foreign OfficeThe visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy for Afghanistan comes in the wake of last weekโ€™s marathon talks between U.S. special representative Zalmay Khalilzad and the Taliban in Qatar.ย Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani Tells Taliban to Engage in Direct Talks or Be Used As โ€˜Toolโ€™.

The United States and Taliban have agreed in principle to chalk out a framework for a deal that could eventually end the 17-year old conflict in Afghanistan. Khalilzad, in an interview to the New York Times, said the United States and the Taliban have agreed in principle on a framework for a peace deal.

According to the peace deal, the Taliban would guarantee that Afghanistan will never be used as a base for terrorism in return for a full American withdrawal from the country. Last month, Russian Ambassador in Pakistan Alexey Dedov had said that Pakistanโ€™s commitment and efforts for regional peace and stability are highlighted by the countryโ€™s decision to open the Kartarpur Corridor with India. The Kartarpur Corridor will provide visa-free access to Sikh pilgrims from India.