On Friday, in a media note, the US State Department announced another Quad for the peace process and settlement in Afghanistan post the US withdrawal from the country.
Under the U.S. – Afghanistan- Uzbekistan – Pakistan Quad Regional Support for Afghanistan-Peace Process and Post Settlement, “Representatives of the United States, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan agreed in principle to establish a new quadrilateral diplomatic platform focused on enhancing regional connectivity.”
It says that the parties consider long-term peace and stability in Afghanistan critical to regional connectivity and that the parties also agree that peace and regional connectivity are mutually reinforcing.
“Recognizing the historic opportunity to open flourishing interregional trade routes, the parties intend to cooperate to expand trade, build transit links and strengthen business-to-business ties,” it reads, further.
The media note concludes that the parties have agreed to meet in the coming months in order to determine the modalities of this cooperation with mutual consensus.
The U.S. State Department took to Twitter to announce the Quad, later. The tweet said, “Today, we announced a new diplomatic platform to help strengthen economic connectivity across the region. We look forward to partnering with Afghanistan, Pakistan & Uzbekistan to enhance regional cooperation, a cornerstone to a sustained peace.”