New Delhi: Pakistan made a strong pitch engagement with the Taliban with the Troika Plus meeting of Afghan special envoys from the US, Russia and China held at Islamabad on Thursday.
With a Taliban delegation led by Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi already in Islamabad, Pakistan’s desire found reflection in the joint statement issued after the meeting.
Addressing the session, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said engagement with the Taliban was important as none wanted a relapse into civil war. “Everyone wants terrorist elements operating inside Afghanistan to be tackled effectively and we all want to prevent a new refugee crisis,” he said, suggesting that the Taliban be invited to the next round of “Troika Plus” talks in Beijing.
This aspect was noted in the joint statement which agreed to continue “practical engagement with the Taliban to encourage the implementation of moderate and prudent policies that can help achieve a stable and prosperous Afghanistan as soon as possible”.
The Troika Plus pointedly asked the Taliban to cut all ties with terrorist groups.