In what came as a clear and stern message to the Afghan insurgent group, the Taliban, a joint statement issued by America, Russia, Pakistan, and China made it clear that the return of the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan is “unacceptable” to the international community. 

The Taliban, which had governed Afghanistan from 1996-2001 with little consideration for human rights, especially women’s rights, calls their regime ‘the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan'.  

Russia hosted on Thursday a peace conference on Afghanistan, the extended Troika, which saw the participation from representatives of Pakistan, China, and the US along with delegations of the Taliban and the Afghan government. Turkey and Qatar also participated in the event as special observers. 

“We call on all parties to the conflict in Afghanistan to reduce the level of violence in the country and on the Taliban not to pursue a spring offensive, so as to avoid further casualty and to create an environment conducive to reaching a negotiated political settlement,” reads the joint statement issued by the Extended ‘Troika’.

The meeting is the first of the three meets planned by the US for a renewed push for the Afghan peace process. Earlier negotiations, that have been going on in Doha, Qatar, hit a roadblock and saw little progress while the ever-approaching deadline, 1 May, for the withdrawal of foreign troops looms large.

During the meeting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov urged the Afghan parties and the Taliban to “take a constructive approach and make compromises.” 

“It’s important to sign an agreement that would serve the interests of all key ethnic and political forces of the country and determine the vector of its development,” he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. It is only through negotiations and compromises, he claimed, the Afghan parties interested in reconciliation could reach a peace deal. 

The joint statement also says that any peace agreement must include “protection for the rights of all Afghans, including women, men, children, victims of war, and minorities.”