Breakthrough: Ghani’s statement result of months’ long diplomacy

Kabul has requested Islamabad to help resume peace process

KARACHI: A day after US Ambassador David Hale hinted at reviving the four-nation Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) for Afghanistan, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has also expressed willingness to revive the QCG, thanks to months long diplomatic efforts by Pakistan.

Ghani’s Friday statement – that “peace with Pakistan is our national agenda” – is expected to be followed by a meeting of the group to discuss the strategy to hold talks between the Afghan government and Taliban.

Diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been rocky in the past few months. The relationship took a downward trajectory after Ghani blamed Pakistan of allowing terrorist activities against Afghanistan from its soil.

Kabul has been informed through diplomatic channels that if it does not change its policy of blaming Pakistan, Islamabad will have to review its policies towards it. Sources said Pakistan has been telling to the Afghanistan that dialogue is the only way forward for the Afghan peace process.

According to sources, now the key to the success of the peace process is with Pakistan because only Islamabad can play a role in convincing Taliban to come to the negotiating table.

Kabul has requested Islamabad to help resume the peace process. The two countries will soon organise a meeting after consulting the other stakeholders. According to sources, Russia can also be included in the process after consulting the other countries.



The QCG can adopt a policy of talks with all factions of Taliban in one place rather than having dialogues with many groups separately. The first priority will be to establish ceasefire between Taliban and the Afghan government.  Pakistan will decide its strategy after establishing formal contact with the Afghan government.

Islamabad aims to agree on being part of the peace talks if Ghani administration assures of taking all possible action against all those groups in Afghanistan which are directly or indirectly involved in terrorism acts in Pakistan.