US, Russia, China, Pakistan urge Afghan ceasefire

KABUL (Pajhwok): The United States, Russia, China, and Pakistan on Thursday jointly called on Afghanistan’s warring sides to reach an immediate cease-fire.

The joint statement comes just six weeks before a deadline for the United States to pull out troops who have been in the country for nearly 20 years.

Issued after the conclusion of talks in Moscow, the joint statement read: “At this turning point, our four countries call on the sides to hold talks and reach a peace agreement that will end more than four decades of war in Afghanistan.”

The statement called on the Taliban and government forces to curb violence and urged the militants not to declare offensives in the spring and summer.

It also said the four countries were committed to mobilizing political and economic support for Afghanistan once a peace settlement had been reached.

High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah attended the Moscow meeting at the head of a 12-member delegation. A 10-member Taliban delegation attended the huddle as well representatives of Russia, China, Pakistan, and the United States.

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