ISLAMABAD, Feb 6 (KUNA) -- Pakistan's Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz on Saturday has reaffirmed his country's firm commitment to lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.
In his opening remarks at the third meeting of the Quadrilateral Contact Group (QCG) of Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States and China on Afghan reconciliation process in federal capital Islamabad, Sartaj Aziz emphasized that political reconciliation is the only viable option for promoting peace in Afghanistan.
Pakistan commends the constructive role of the United States and China for facilitating the peace process. It is really encouraging that the Group has made steady progress in its first two meetings, demonstrating clarity as well as seriousness of purpose.
In the Kabul meeting on 18th January, the QCG's call on the Taliban groups to enter into early talks with the Afghan Government without preconditions is a reiteration of a strong message by the international community for peace talks in order to find a basis for enduring political settlement in Afghanistan, said Aziz.
The Adviser expressed hope that the Group will now focus on the early adoption of a road map for the reconciliation process and identify the way forward for holding direct peace talks between the representatives of the Government of Afghanistan and Taliban groups as early as possible. Aziz was of the view that a clear, well-defined and actionable road map for the peace process between the Afghan Government and Taliban groups is important.
The quadrilateral process was agreed to establish on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia Conference in December last year to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan. (end) sbk.tg