New Quad Group

• The US, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan have agreed in principle to establish a new quadrilateral diplomatic platform focused on enhancing regional connectivity,
• It could help expand interregional trade and strengthen business-to-business ties.
• The parties agreed to meet in the coming months to determine the modalities of this cooperation with mutual consensus

Significance :

Bring peace and stability to Afghanistan:

• Currently, Afghanistan is suffering from an internal crisis, due to war between the Taliban and Afghan Government.
• Taliban has captured almost 85% of the country’s area
• Since the announcement of the withdrawal of U.S. forces by August 31, violence has been rising and efforts to broker a peace settlement between the Afghan government and insurgent Taliban have slowed.
• The Quad will consider long-term peace and stability in Afghanistan critical to regional connectivity and agree that peace and regional connectivity are mutually reinforcing.

Strategic location of Afghanistan:

• Afghanistan’s strategic location has for a long time been touted as a competitive advantage for the country.
• Afghanistan is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to the north, and China to the northeast.
• Located at the heart of the historic Silk Road, Afghanistan was long the crossroads of commerce between Asian countries connecting them to Europe, and enhancing religious, cultural, and commercial contacts.
• The diplomatic platform could help leverage Afghanistan’s strategic location advantage to its growth and development.

Counter China’s BRI:

• The formation of the new quad group is important amid China's desire to extend its Belt Road Initiative (BRI) to Afghanistan.
• By virtue of its location, Afghanistan can provide China with a strategic base to spread its influence across the world.
• The BRI, a multi-billion-dollar initiative launched by China in 2013, aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes.