Following talks on Afghanistan, the U.S. along with Russia, China and Pakistan jointly stated that “a sustainable peace can only be achieved through a negotiated political settlement”, urging “all parties to the conflict in Afghanistan to reduce the level of violence in the country and on the Taliban not to pursue a Spring offensive, so as to avoid further casualties and to create an environment conducive to reaching a negotiated political settlement”. “We do not support the restoration of the Islamic Emirate and we call on the Government of the Islamic Republic and the High Council for National Reconciliation to engage openly with their Taliban counterparts regarding a negotiated settlement”, the four countries added.