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Muscat: Peace in Afganistan, 6th Quadrilateral Talks Underway

Muscat (October 16, 2017): The sixth quadrilateral meeting aimed at finding a politically acceptable solution of Afghan imbroglio has kicked off here.

Representatives from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States will discuss counter terrorism efforts in the war-torn country and seek a politically negotiated settlement to the Afghan war.

Pakistan is represented at the talks by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua who is heading delegation at the dialogue.

According to diplomatic sources the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) will chalk out its future strategy during the meeting and will also discuss the efforts for the restoration of negotiations process anew.Diplomatic also informed that due to joint strategy of Pakistan and China the US has returned back to the QCG. Pakistan’s stance to find political solution of the Afghan issue has been hailed, the sources added.

It ay be mentioned here that addressing weekly press briefing in Islamabad last week the Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria had said the objective of the talks is to bring the Afghan warring factions to negotiating table.

The QCG will try to revive talks with the Taliban to bring a negotiated peace settlement in the war-torn country. This is the first meeting of the QCG after Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansoor’s death in a US drone strike in Balochistan in May 2016.

Aimed at reviving the Afghan peace process the QCG had held its first meeting in Islamabad on January 11 last year.It may also be mentioned here that Tehmina Janjua and Dr Mohammed Bin Awadh Al Hassan, Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Oman, had met for the 6th Round of Pakistan-Oman Bilateral Political Consultations here yesterday.

The Foreign Secretary also briefed her counterpart on relations with neighbouring countries, including the situation of human rights in Indian Occupied Kashmir.Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah of Afghanistan had said yesterday relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan would also be discussed at the QCG meeting.

Talking to reporters in Mehtarlam, the capital of eastern Laghman province, Abdullah calling good relations with neighbours Afghanistan’s need had said the recent visit of the Pakistan Army Chief was aimed at decreasing tensions and improving relations between the neighbors.

He also said that Speaking in Mehtarlam, Abdullah termed peace and stability in Afghanistan as equally important for neighboring countries and the region. He said for the sake of regional stability, more focus should be on stability in Afghanistan at the QCG meeting.

It may also be mentioned here that Taliban have rejection participating in the QCG.Without naming any country Abdullah had said that support to militant groups in Afghanistan by the neighboring countries could backfire and threaten the neighboring countries too.

He termed Pakistan Army chief visit to Kabul a step forward to improve relations between the two countries and said Afghanistan welcomed it.

Referring to ongoing operations against Daesh in eastern provinces, the CEO said Afghan security forces with the help of people would eliminate Daesh militants.

It may also be mentioned here that two days ago on October 14 Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that Pakistan is ready to play role for peace in Afghanistan and has offered help for this purpose. In an interview, the minister said that Pakistan has apprized the United States about playing a role for peace in Afghanistan.The Foreign Minister said there are no sanctuaries or hideouts of terrorists in Pakistan, and just levelling allegations would not help resolve the problems.

A day later of October 15  US President Donald Trump had said that he wants to express his gratitude to Pakistan and its leadership for their “cooperation” — something that came as a stark contrast to the scathing comments he had made earlier this year during the unveiling of the American strategy in South Asia.

Just two months ago in August Trump disclosed his long-awaited strategy for South Asia in general and Afghanistan in particular.

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