The United States found on Friday backing from rivals Russia and China on the key formula of a peace deal it is negotiating in Afghanistan - withdrawing troops in return for Taliban pledges not to welcome foreign extremists, reports The Defence Post.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. envoy who is set shortly to hold his latest round of talks with the Taliban, called the consensus a "milestone" in efforts to end the war after he met Russian and Chinese representatives in Moscow.
A joint statement by the three countries called for an "inclusive Afghan-led" peace process and outlined points expected to feature in an eventual agreement.
"The three sides call for an orderly and responsible withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan as part of the overall peace process," the statement issued by the U.S. State Department said.
They also said that the Taliban has made a "commitment" to fight Islamic State and to "cut ties with Al-Qaeda, ETIM [East Turkestan Islamic Movement], and other international terrorist groups."
The Taliban has promised to "ensure the areas they control will not be used to threaten any other country," the statement said, calling on them to prevent any "terrorist recruiting, training and fund-raising."
One major sticking point is the Taliban's refusal to negotiate with the government of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, which has wide-ranging international support.
Hopes for a breakthrough suffered a major setback on April 19 after a key summit between the Taliban and Afghan officials was indefinitely postponed in a row over the large number of delegates Kabul wanted to send. The insurgents had insisted they would only talk to Ghani's government in a "personal capacity," but any contact between the two parties would have been hugely significant.
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