ISLAMABAD – The United States, Pakistan, Russia and China on Thursday urgedthe Afghan Taliban to not launch “spring offensive” to avoid more violencein the conflict-hit country.
A joint call was given during a conference hosted by Moscow in a bid tobreak impasse in the intra Afghan talks.
The huddle what was called “extended troika” was attended by US SpecialEnvoy Zalmay Khalilzad, head of the Afghan high peace council Dr AbdullahAbdullah, chief Taliban negotiator Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Pakistan’sspecial envoy for Afghanistan Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq, representative ofQatar and Turkey.
It is the first of the three international conferences planned by Russiaahead of the May 1 deadline set for the withdrawal of foreign troop fromAfghanistan.
“We hope that today’s talks will help achieve progress in the inter-Afghantalks,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at the start of themeeting.
A joint statement issued after the meeting urged both Afghan government andTaliban to hold talks in order to conclude the long-awaited peaceagreement.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Sadiq said Pakistan, China and the USwere members of the extended “troika” while Qatar and Turkey participatedin the conference as special guests.
He highlighted that the dream of connectivity, economic development andprosperity of the region could not be achieved without lasting peace.
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“Pakistan believes in exclusive approach towards negotiations andgovernance will significantly help the cause of sustainable peace inAfghanistan. The international community needs to remain engaged inAfghanistan and help the country at this critical juncture,” he said.
He said that Pakistan wants to see Afghanistan as a prosperous country.
Head of the Afghan peace council also “called for an end to violence andthe acceleration of the peace talks”.
Earlier this week, Taliban has warned the US of consequence if foreigntroops are not withdrawn from Afghanistan as agreed last year under then USpresident Donald Trump.
The second conference is likely to be held in Turkey.
