Pakistan to participate in four-party meeting on Afghan peace process in Moscow – Pakistan

Foreign Ministry (FO) spokesman Dr. Mohammad Faisal said Wednesday that Pakistan will participate in the next round of a four-part meeting on the Afghan peace process, scheduled to be held in Moscow.

During a weekly press conference, Dr. Faisal said that the additional FO secretary for Afghanistan / West Asia will represent Pakistan at the meeting.

"Pakistan has been part of all efforts and processes so far to discuss and facilitate peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan.

"Pakistan's role is particularly notable in crystallizing international convergence for a peaceful resolution in Afghanistan," said the FO spokesman.

In July, a round of the four-party meeting on the Afghan peace process was held in the Chinese capital. This was the third meeting of the trilateral forum, which includes China, Russia and the United States, but the first in which Pakistan also participated.

Read: United States, Russia, China and Pakistan favor permanent ceasefire in Afghanistan: Jalilzad

At that time, the United States reconciliation envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, had said that the United States, Russia, China and Pakistan had supported the need for a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire in Afghanistan, which should begin simultaneously with intra-Afghan talks. .

However, last month, U.S. President Donald Trump suspended talks with the Taliban.

Earlier this month, a high-level Afghan Taliban delegation visited Pakistan. The visit coincided with the trip from Khalilzad to Islamabad.

In response to a question about the upcoming talks, Dr. Faisal said today: "The next round will take place in Moscow at an appropriate time, as it would provide an important opportunity to review the currently stalled peace process."

He added that Pakistan will continue its efforts "unconditional support as part of its shared responsibility for international peace efforts to be successful in Afghanistan."

The spokesperson was also asked about the intra-Afghan dialogue held in China.

"China has invited a delegation […] to participate in the intra-Afghan dialogue, "said a Taliban spokesman, Suhail Shaheen, in a Twitter post Tuesday night. However, Dr. Faisal said he had no update on it.