Zalmay Mamozy Khalilzad (Pashto: ځلمی خلیل زاد, Dari: زلمی خلیل‌زاد; born March 22, 1951) is an Afghan-American diplomat and foreign policy expert. Khalilzad was appointed by President Donald J. Trump to serve as U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation in September 2018. President Joseph R. Biden asked Khalilzad to continue in this position after the 2020 presidential election. Khalilzad resigned as U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation in October 2021. Khailzad was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as United States Ambassador to the United Nations, serving in the role from 2007 to 2009. Khalilzad was the highest ranking Muslim-American in government at the time he left the position. Prior to this, Khalilzad served in the Bush administra