Russia will host the first-ever trilateral talks involving Pakistan and China next month in an effort to partner peace in Afghanistan.
"This is a watershed moment," the Express Tribune quoted a senior Pakistani official, who believes the development is part of the realignment taking place in the region.
Last month, Pakistan and Russia held their first-ever joint military drills in a landmark development showing gradual improvement in their ties marred by Cold War.
The official said that the three-way talks will discuss how to bring an end to the long running conflict in Afghanistan and prevent groups such as Islamic State, from gaining a foothold in the war-torn country.
Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said that the initiative was aimed at bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region at large.
"The deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan has raised concerns about the spillover effect due to the presence of non-state actors and other elements there," he said.
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The broader context of the upcoming gathering in Moscow in the first week of December is the transformation in relationship taking place among the major international players.
The latest initiative is also significant in the backdrop of possible policy changes the US President-elect Donald Trump may bring to the region, including Afghanistan.