Four-nation group terms negotiations only option for political settlement

The envoys, involving Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the U.S. reiterated after held meeting here on Wednesday that violence serves no purpose and that peace negotiations remain the only option for a political settlement.

The Quadrilateral Coordination Group or the QCG countries reaffirmed to use their respective leverages and influences, a joint statement said after the meeting.

The QCG strongly condemned the April 19 terrorist attack in Kabul and underscored that those who perpetrate such acts of terrorism should be ready to face consequences of their actions.

The QCG expressed their continued determination with shared commitment to advance the goal of an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process.

The next QCG meeting will be convened as mutually agreed, the statement said.

The fifth meeting of the QCG was attended by Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry who hosted the meeting.

Other delegations were led by Afghan President's Special Envoy and Ambassador of Afghanistan to Pakistan Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, the Special Representative of the United States for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Richard G. Olson and China's Special Envoy for Afghan Affairs Ambassador Deng Xijun.

The QCG was meeting after a gap of nearly three months and faced a tough challenge of dealing with the situation when Kabul was demanding the use of military option.

After the Taliban refused to join the talks in March under the QCG, President Ashraf Ghani in a policy shift also preferred war with the Taliban in his parliament speech on April 25. Endit