KABUL (TCA) — Representatives of China, Russia, and the United States held their 3rd consultation on the Afghan peace process in Beijing where they agreed on key issues including an immediate start of the intra-Afghan negotiations which will also involve the Afghan government and the Taliban, Afghan broadcaster TOLOnews reported with reference to the US Department of State statement on July 12.
The US Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad held the tri-lateral meeting after he wrapped up the seventh round of talks with the Taliban in Doha on July 9.
The US, China and Russia welcomed Pakistan joining the consultation and believe that Pakistan can play an important role in facilitating peace in Afghanistan, the statement said.
Khalilzad said in a tweet on Friday that they agreed “intra-Afghan negotiations between the Taliban, the Afghan government, and other Afghans should start immediately; that these negotiations should produce a peace framework as soon as possible; and detail a future inclusive political arrangement acceptable to all Afghans.”
“We also agreed that violence needs to slow now and a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire should start with intra-Afghan negotiations,” Khalilzad tweeted. “We agreed we will expand and ask more international partners to join with the start of negotiations.”
The US Department of State said in the statement that Pakistan appreciated the constructive efforts by the China-Russia-US trilateral consultation on the Afghan peace process.
The four sides exchanged views on the current situation and joint efforts for realizing a political settlement to advance peace, stability, and prosperity of Afghanistan and the region, the statement said.
The four sides emphasized the importance of the trilateral consensus on the Afghan peace process reached in Moscow on April 25, 2019.
They also welcomed intra-Afghan meetings held in Moscow and Doha.
The four sides called for relevant parties to grasp the opportunity for peace and immediately start intra-Afghan negotiations between the Taliban, the Afghan government, and other Afghans.
