An Afghan delegation led by Abdullah Abdullah, who chairs the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) emphasized in the gathering that no group can impose its wills through war and force. The Taliban, on the other hand, reiterate that it will fight against any system except an Islamic one.
Speaking at the summit, Afghan top peace broker Abdullah Abdullah said that war was not the way out of Afghanistan’s crisis and no group can impose its demands and wills by force.
The Taliban delegation, however, renewed its calls for an Islamic system, saying a ceasefire will be reached only after an Islamic system establishes in the country.
Russia, the host country for the summit, the United States and several other countries called for a ceasefire in Afghanistan during the peace talks in the Russian capital.
In a joint declaration at the end of the summit, the United States, Russia, China and Pakistan urged the warring sides to reduce violence and called on the Taliban to forgo their spring offensive.
“We call on all parties to the conflict in Afghanistan to reduce the level of violence in the country and the Taliban Movement not to declare a spring-summer offensive campaign,” the statement said.
The countries also did not support the restoration of an Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan, citing UNSC resolution 2513 (2020).
“We do not support the restoration of the Islamic Emirate,” the statement read.
The statement called on both sides to conclude their peace negotiations and supported the formation of “an independent, sovereign, unified, peaceful, democratic, and self-sufficient Afghanistan,” free of terrorism and drugs.
It also called for the protection of the rights of women, children, minorities, and others.
The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has welcomed the joint statement, saying it was a step forward to starting earnest negotiations for reaching a peace which is based on demand of the Afghan nation.
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