Abstract
The article analyses the results of the Quadrilateral Cooperation Group (QCG) meeting in Oman, in which the representatives of Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the US took part. The meeting of the QCG in the Gulf state is taking place after a gap of 16 months. The objective was to revive talks on encouraging the Taliban to come to the negotiating table and enhance regional antiterrorism cooperation. However, the Taliban's reluctance to engage in peace talks along with mistrust between Kabul and Islamabad have led to a lack of progress during this session. Unlike the past, no joint statement was issued after the talks. In August 2017, US President Donald Trump announced the «new strategy» for Afghanistan and South Asia promising intensification in the military efforts and asking Pakistan to eliminate terrorists' «safe havens» on its territory. Islamabad, however, rejected these allegations. Kabul, for its part, continued to accuse Islamabad of supporting and harbouring the Afghan Taliban even during the work of the QCG. Besides, within four days, between 16 and 19 October, the wave of Taliban suicide attacks targeting Afghan police compounds and government facilities in Ghazni, Paktia and Kandahar provinces occured. Furthermore, terrorists attacked worshippers in mosques in Kabul city and Ghor province. These attacks caused tremendous human casualties among both Afghan government forces and civiliansAfghan military analysts immediately accused Pakistan of involvement in these events. Thus, the meeting was rather focused on easing the tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan than providing the way to directs talks with the Taliban, but have ended without any breakthrough.
Keywords
Quadrilateral Cooperation Group, Afghanistan, national reconciliation process, Pakistan
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