India has not been excluded from the efforts to bring peace in Afghanistan, China said on Monday, days after it hosted a key meeting with the US, Russia and Pakistan on facilitating peace process in the war-torn country.
Representatives of China, Russia, and the US held their 3rd consultation on the Afghan peace process in Beijing on July 10-11 following which they also requested Pakistan to join for a surprise quadrilateral meeting.
“China, Russia, and the United States welcomed Pakistan joining the consultation and believe that Pakistan can play an important role in facilitating peace in Afghanistan”, a joint statement issued at the end of the meeting said.
US special envoy for Afghanistan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad, who is currently holding talks with the Taliban to work out an agreement for withdrawal of the US troops and participation of the rebel group in the Afghan Government, attended the meeting.