KABUL, 19 March, 2021 (TON): On Friday in Moscow, the Afghan Foreign Ministry welcomed a statement issued after a meeting held a day earlier over the Afghan peace process.

The Ministry called the statement a step forward towards the start of the negotiations, the media reported.

The ministry, "The Islamic Republic is the only inclusive and acceptable structure that can ensure political participation, pluralism, citizenship equality and preserving of stability in a diverse society like Afghanistan." 

"The Islamic Republic is the only inclusive and acceptable structure that can ensure political participation, pluralism, citizenship equality and preserving of stability in a diverse society like Afghanistan," the Ministry added.

Moscow hosted the meeting of the extended 'Troika' comprising representatives of Russia, China, US, and Pakistan that focused on making progress in the intra-Afghan process to reach a negotiated settlement and permanent ceasefire in the country.

A joint statement was issued following the conference that also recognized the will of the Afghan people for peace, calling for reduction of the violence and reiterating calls for a negotiated settlement for the conflict.

Following the conference, a joint statement was issued in which the four key participants stated that they would not support the return of the Islamic emirate system in Afghanistan.