Pakistan China, Russia, US insist on Afghans for a ceasefire

The United States ,Russia, China and Pakistan insisted on Afghanistan's warring sides to immediately ceasefire on Thursday, at talks that showed Washington's determination to win backing from regional powers for its plans.

Washington sent a senior official for the first time for the peace talks convened by Russia only six weeks before a deadline for the United states to pull out troops that have been in Afghanistan for nearly 20 years.

The Moscow talks were meant to breathe life into negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban in Qatar’s capital Doha, hindered over government accusations that the insurgents have done too little to halt 

“At this turning point, our four countries call on the sides to hold talks and reach a peace agreement that will end more than four decades of war in Afghanistan,” a joint statement said after Thursday’s talks.

The Moscow gathering will be followed by a meeting of regional players in Turkey next month and a summit that Khalilzad has asked the United Nations to organize.