The Latest Attempt for a Roadmap for Peace in Afghanistan - A Lost Cause?

Abstract

On February 6, a meeting of the ‘Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) on Afghan Peace and Reconciliation Process’ took place in Islamabad. The QCG is a partnership between Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, and the United States (US) that seeks to promote a conducive environment for the commencement of Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace talks aimed at reducing violence and establishing lasting peace in Afghanistan and in the region as a whole.

This latest meeting was third in the row of the QCG group this year. The first meeting was held on January 11, 2016, in Islamabad, followed by a second one in Kabul on January 18.[1] During these two meetings, the representatives of the four countries reiterated the commitment of their countries towards the realization of objectives expressed in their statement from the quadrilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the ‘Heart of Asia Conference’ in Islamabad on December 9, 2015.

Keywords: Afghanistan, South Asia, Pakistan, Conflict Studies, Terrorism

JEL Classification: H56, N40, N45