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Qatar, Others Encourage Further Steps for Peace in Afghanistan

Ayesha Tanzeem

   ISLAMABAD - Five countries, several of whom have been closely involved
   in efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan, issued a joint statement
   welcoming the Eid cease-fire in the country and calling on all parties
   to take it forward from here.

   "We encourage the parties to take further steps in the days and weeks
   ahead in order to enter into, without delay, intra-Afghan negotiations
   aimed at securing a durable peace settlement that ends the conflict in
   Afghanistan," said a joint statement by Qatar, Germany, Indonesia,
   Norway, and Uzbekistan issued Sunday, the day Afghans celebrated Eid al
   Fitr, one of the holiest Muslim festivals.

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