Engage openly with Taliban, Extended Troika asks Kabul

KABUL (Pajhwok). The Extended Troika on a peaceful settlement in Afghanistan has urged Kabul to engage openly with the Taliban on a negotiated end to the war in the country.

At their meeting in Qatar on Friday, the United States, Russia, China and Pakistan hoped the Taliban would keep their promise to prevent terrorist groups from using Afghan territory to threaten the security of other countries.

Sputnik reported the meeting in Doha was also attended by representatives from the Afghan government and the Taliban movement.

In a joint statement, the participants said; “We expect the Taliban to fulfill their counterterrorism commitments, including preventing terrorist groups and individuals from using Afghan soil to threaten the security of any other country; not hosting these groups and preventing them from recruiting, training, and fundraising.”

The statement added: “We urge the Afghan government and the High Council for National Reconciliation to engage openly with their Taliban on a negotiated settlement.”

The special representatives of the Extended Troika countries met in a bid to revive the intra-Afghan peace negotiations.

PAN Monitor/mud