BRICS Foreign Ministers Concerned Over Escalation In Afghanistan - Joint Communique

BRICS Foreign Ministers Concerned Over Escalation in Afghanistan - Joint Communique

The foreign ministers of the BRICS group of emerging economies expressed concern about the aggravated situation in Afghanistan, expressing hope that the country would be able to return to a time of peace, according to their joint communique.

BEIJING (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 28th September, 2018) The foreign ministers of the BRICS group of emerging economies expressed concern about the aggravated situation in Afghanistan, expressing hope that the country would be able to return to a time of peace, according to their joint communique.

The foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Thursday.

"The Ministers reaffirmed their support for the process of an 'Afghan- led, Afghan- owned' national peace and reconciliation process. They expressed their concern over the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan particularly the increase in the number and intensity of terrorist-related attacks on the Afghan National Security Forces, the Government and civilians," the statement published on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website reads.

The ministers also called on the international community to support the government and people of Afghanistan in achieving peace.

In addition, they welcomed the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections in the country.

Afghanistan has long been suffering from an unstable security situation. The government has been fighting the Taliban, which has been waging a war against Kabul for almost two decades, and the Islamic State terrorist group (IS, banned in Russia), which has been operating in Afghanistan since 2015.