ISLAMABAD: The envoys, involving Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the U.S., Wednesday started discussion in Islamabad to look into various options how to push for the reconciliation process after the Taliban refused to enter into talks with the Afghan government.

The Quadrilateral Coordination Group or the QCG, which is meeting after a gap of nearly three months, faces a tough challenge how to deal with the situation when Kabul is demanding the use of military option.

After the Taliban refused to join the talks in March under the QCG, President Ashraf Ghani in a policy shift also preferred war with the Taliban in his parliament speech on April 25.

Afghan ambassador Dr Omar Zakhilwal, who will represent his country in the 5th QCG round, insists the Taliban should be declared as “irreconcilable” as they have now publicly refused to join the talks.

''We discussed in details the quadrilateral meeting to be held today (Wednesday) in the afternoon and other important issues," Dr Zakhilwal said in a brief statement posted online.

Mr Olson will lead the U.S. delegation while Ambassador Deng Xijun, Chinese special representative for Afghanistan are leading his country’s team. Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry represents Pakistani side. Afghanistan deputy foreign minister, Hekmat Khalil Karzai, who had attended the previous QCG’s sessions, skipped the Wednesday’s meet in an apparent sign of disappointment at the lack of progress.

U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Olson and Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Omar Zakhilwal met ahead of the QCG meet on Wednesday discussed strategy.

People familiar with the QCG earlier meetings say Kabul and Washington had been on one side while Pakistan and China stood on the other in a visible division.

Pakistan and China are opposing the use of military option and the Pakistani Foreign Affairs Adviser, Sartaj Aziz, has reminded Afghan leaders that the problem has not been solved militarily over the past 14 years.