The four-party consultation, which involves Russia, China, the United States and Pakistan, concluded in Moscow on Friday with a call on all warring groups in Afghanistan to observe a ceasefire for the duration of intra-Afghan negotiations to enable participants to reach agreement on a political roadmap for the country's future. The countries including Russia, China and Pakistan also expressed their support for the earliest resumption of negotiation process and reaching an agreement between the United States of America and the Taliban, which will pave way for launching intra-Afghan talks.
The joint statement, issued after the talks, stated that the special representatives of Russia, China and United States of America held their fourth consultation on the Afghan peace process in Moscow on October 25. 2019.
Russia, China, the United States and Pakistan also held the second round of four-party consultations in which participants discussed ways to support the Afghan people's desire for a lasting peace, respect of the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Afghanistan.
Pakistan was represented by Additional Secretary, Afghanistan and West Asia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Muhemmed Aejaz, while the United States by its Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad, Russia by its Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov and Russian President's Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Zamir Kabulov, and China by the Chinese Special Envoy for Afghanistan Ambassador Deng Xijun.
At the end, the participants acknowledged the widespread and sincere demand of the Afghan people for lasting peace and an end to the war. They reviewed the current situation in Afghanistan and their joint efforts to reach sustainable settlement in the country by political and diplomatic means and also confirmed that a sustainable peace can be achieved only through a negotiated political settlement.
"Russia, China and Pakistan expressed their support for the earliest resumption of negotiation process and reaching an agreement between the United States of America and the Taliban movement, which will pave the way for launching infra-Afghan talks," it stated.
The participants also committed to work with Afghanistan, both government leaders and others, and the Taliban to reach a comprehensive and sustainable peace agreement that ends the war for the benefit of all Afghans and that contributes to regional stability and global security.
In order to create an environment conducive for negotiations, they urged all sides to immediately reduce violence and stated their expectations that all sides will observe a ceasefire for the duration of intra-Afghan negotiations to enable participants to reach agreement on a political roadmap for Afghanistan's future.
They called on the Afghan government and the Taliban to release significant numbers of prisoners at the start of intra-Afghan negotiations.
The participants also reaffirmed that any peace agreement must include protections for the rights of all Afghans, including women, men, children and minorities, and should respond to the strong desire of Afghans for economic, social, political and development including rule of law.
They called on all Afghans including the government and the Taliban to ensure al-Qaeda, Daesh, ETIM [East Turkestan Islamic Movement] and other international terrorists do not use Afghan soil to threaten the security of any other country.
They also highlighted the importance of fighting illegal drug production and trafficking and urged all sides to eliminate the drug threat in Afghanistan. The participants encouraged all concerned countries to support the Afghan people and contribute to a lasting peace settlement in the interest of all.
They also welcomed the Chinese proposal to host the next intra-Afghan meeting in Beijing with the participation of a wide range of political figures of Afghanistan, including representatives of the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, other Afghan leaders and the Taliban.
They noted the importance of current consultations with further involvement of other interested actors on the basis of the trilateral consensus agreed on April 25, 2019 in Moscow.
The participants also expressed their appreciation to Russian side for organizing the four-party consultations and agreed to settle the date and venue of the next meeting through diplomatic channels.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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