28 Oct 2019 11:16

Russia, China, Pakistan speak in favor of soonest resumption of U.S.-Taliban talks - Russian Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW. Oct 28 (Interfax) - Russia, China, and Pakistan spoke in favor of the soonest resumption of talks and the conclusion of an agreement between the United States and the Taliban (banned in Russia) at the second round of consultations on Afghanistan, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

Special representatives of Russia, China, and the United States held the fourth round of consultations on the Afghan peace process in Moscow on October 25.

"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 intra-Afghan talks," Russia, China, the United States, and Pakistan said in their joint statement regarding the Afghan peace process.

The sides "acknowledged the widespread and sincere demand of the Afghan people for lasting peace and an end to the war," the statement said.

The participants "reviewed the current situation in Afghanistan and their joint efforts to reach sustainable settlement in the country by political and diplomatic means" and "confirmed that a sustainable peace can be achieved only through a negotiated political settlement," the statement said.

The participants said they were "committed to work with the Islamic Republic of 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," the statement said.