New quad group for Afghan peace process announced: FO

Islamabad: The United States, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan have announced a new Quad Regional Support group for Afghanistan Peace Process.

“Representatives of the United States, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed in principle to establish a new quadrilateral diplomatic platform focused on enhancing regional connectivity,” Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said in a statement issued here on Friday.

“The parties consider long-term peace and stability in Afghanistan critical to regional-connectivity and agree that peace and regional connectivity and mutually reinforcing,” he added.

“Recognizing the historic opportunity to open flourishing international trade routes, the parties intend to cooperate to expand trade, build transit links and strengthen business-to-business ties,” he said.

“The parties agreed to meet in the coming months to determine the modalities of this cooperation with mutual consensus”, he concluded.