Afghanistan, China, Pakistan urge orderly withdrawal from Afghanistan

Afghanistan, China and Pakistan on Thursday called for the responsible and orderly withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan to avoid a deterioration in the security situation in the region or giving terrorist forces the opportunity to thrive, China Global Television Network (cgtn) reported.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi reached the consensus at the 4th China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue via video link, according to a joint statement.

The ministers underlined the importance of a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Afghanistan and called on all parties in the country to make an early declaration of a comprehensive ceasefire and an end to the senseless violence in order to create the conditions needed for negotiations between Afghanistan and the Taliban, read the statement.

According to the report they insisted that United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution 2513 on securing peace in Afghanistan must be observed and said they look forward to and welcome the early return of the Taliban to the country’s political mainstream.

The foreign ministers reiterated that they do not support the establishment of any government imposed by force and they wanted Afghanistan to be an independent, sovereign and democratic state that enjoys security and stability, achieves development and prosperity, and lives in harmony with its neighbors.

The resolution of governance issues should fully reflect the “Afghan-led, Afghan-owned” principle, they said, and the Afghan government could play a leading role in Afghanistan’s peace and reconciliation process to draw up a plan with all parties that reflects extensiveness and inclusiveness.

The ministers also called on the international community, particularly the UN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, to make positive contributions to advancing peace and reconciliation.

They recommended that Afghanistan’s neighbors play a more important role in the process.

Meanwhile, China and Pakistan reaffirmed their firm support for the peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan and readiness to expand economic and trade ties with Kabul and support it in enhancing its capacity for independent development.