In an attempt to revive the peace process between the Afghan government and the Taliban, the first meeting of the Afghanistan-Pakistan-United States-China Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) was held in Islamabad on January 11, 2016. The group included Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Richard G. Olson and China’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan Ambassador Deng Xijun.
The meeting highlighted “the need for immediate resumption of direct talks between the Afghan government and Taliban.” All four countries “agreed to pursue efforts as part of an intensive schedule of meetings and discussions.” The talks focused on adopting a “clear and realistic assessment of the opportunities for peace and reconciliation.” It also stressed on the “hurdles involved and plausible measures to be taken to create a conducive environment for the resumption of talks.”
