Pakistan

Afghan peace talks: Quadrilateral group agrees to give peace a chance

Talks remain the only option for bringing an end to the lingering conflict in Afghanistan, says QCG

Kamran Yousaf May 18, 2016

In this handout photograph released by the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) on May 18, 2016, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry (centre L) chairs the fifth round of four-way peace talks with Afghanistan, US and Chinese delegates at the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: Senior officials from Pakistan, Afghanistan, the United States and China agreed on Wednesday to give peace a chance, saying talks remain the only option for bringing an end to the lingering conflict in Afghanistan.

The meeting of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG), headed by Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry, was held in Islamabad after a gap of three months against the backdrop of growing differences among the countries involved in the Afghan peace process.

Ahead of the crucial QCG meeting, Afghanistan had said it would push for declaring the Taliban as 'irreconcible' since they refused to join the peace process.

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But at the end of 5th meeting of QCG since it was formed in December last year, all sides agreed on the need for efforts to start peace process.

The QCG has reiterated that violence serves no purpose and that peace negotiations remain the only option for a political settlement.

In this respect, the quadrilateral group reaffirmed to use their respective leverages and influences, said a joint statement issued by the foreign office.

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The delegations in the meeting were led by Afghan President’s Special Envoy and Ambassador of Afghanistan to Pakistan Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, the Special Representative of the United States for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Richard G Olson, and China’s Special Envoy for Afghan Affairs Ambassador Deng Xijun.

Moreover, the QCG strongly condemned the April 19 terrorist attack in Kabul and underscored that those who perpetrate such acts of terrorism should be ready to face consequences of their actions, while expressing continued determination to advance the goal of an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process.

The next QCG meeting will be convened later some time on mutually agreed date.

COMMENTS (1)

Mohammad Aryubi | 8 years ago | Reply Such meetings would serve no useful purpose, as they are actually a sheer exercise in futility. Actually the Afghan side needs a crush course in geopolitics. And above all, its Pakistan's policy is imprudent demanding its rulers to help bring the Afghan militants to the negotiating table, whereas the Ghani-Abdullah leadership being oblivious of the fact that the Afghan Taliban are not an independent entity. A sensible and viable demand of the Pakistani rulers is to disarm the Afghan barbaric militants, and expel, expel their leadership from their country.Failing to do so, the Afghan government can lodge a complaint in the UN Security Council. Period.

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