US, Russia, China, Pak urge Taliban to agree for ceasefire, begin talks with Afghan govt

The US, China, Russia and Pakistan have jointly urged the Taliban to immediately agree to a ceasefire and begin direct negotiations with the Afghanistan government to end the 18-year violence in the war-torn country.

In a joint statement, issued Friday following the conclusion of a meeting on the Afghan peace process held in Beijing on July 10-11, they re-affirmed that the negotiations should be "Afghan-led and Afghan-owned" and produce a peace framework as soon as possible.

"This framework should guarantee the orderly and responsible transition of the security situation and detail an agreement on a future inclusive political arrangement acceptable to all Afghans," it said.

The US, Russia, China and Pakistan have asked relevant parties to grasp the opportunity for peace and start immediately the intra-Afghan negotiations between the Taliban, the Afghanistan government and other Afghans, the statement said.

Pakistan for the first time joined the US, Russia and China's trilateral consultations on the Afghanistan peace process.

Welcoming Pakistan in joining the consultation, the statement said, "They believe that Pakistan can play an important role in facilitating peace in Afghanistan."
President Donald Trump has been critical of Pakistan's role in the fight against terrorism, especially Islamabad's actions in war-ravaged Afghanistan. The Trump administration has suspended security and other assistance to Pakistan, saying Islamabad in return has given only "lies and deceit."