Russia: Taliban to attend Afghan talks in Moscow
Russia has said the Taliban have accepted an invitation for talks next month, in what promises to be one of the insurgent group’s biggest diplomatic forays since the 2001 US-led invasion.
The announcement of the planned talks comes as the Taliban have expanded their footprint across Afghanistan and launched an unrelenting wave of attacks, including a prolonged assault on Ghazni, a strategic city near Kabul, earlier this month.
Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow invited the Taliban to the September 4 talks and was hoping for “productive” negotiations. “The first reaction was positive, they are planning to take part in the meeting,” he said.
Lavrov reaffirmed that Russia’s contacts with the Taliban aim to ensure the safety of Russian citizens in Afghanistan and encourage the insurgents to abandon hostilities and engage in a dialogue with the government.
A senior Taliban official confirmed they would send a delegation to Russia “for the sake of finding peace in Afghanistan.” The official said the group plans to send representatives to other countries in the region, including Pakistan and China, “to take them into confidence and address their concerns.”
Lavrov rejected claims by the Afghan government that Russia is hoping to use the Taliban to combat the Islamic State.
MOSCOW:
ban on dozens of Afghan strongmen and lawmakers from running for parliament because of suspected links to illegal armed groups has spurred threats to disrupt a general election already at risk from worsening security.
The October polls, seen as an important test of Afghanistan’s democratic legitimacy and a dry run for a presidential election next year, have been repeatedly delayed because of organisational problems.
“There will be riots, protests and road-blockages if they don’t accept me,” said Assadullah Sharifi, a lawmaker who is among 35 people the Electoral Complaints Commission has barred from standing.REUTERS
KABUL:A
The foreign ministry said the September 4 talks in Moscow would include representatives of Russia, Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, Iran and India, and are intended to “help advance the process of national reconciliation in Afghanistan and establish peace in the country as soon as possible.” It said other countries, including the US, also have been invited to attend.