Breaking Kabul-Taliban ice

Moscow – Moscow hosted international talks on Afghanistan yesterday aimed at kick-starting direct negotiations between Kabul and the Taliban.

Russia hoped “through joint efforts to open a new page in the history of Afghanistan”, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said their representatives would not negotiate with the Kabul administration. “This conference is not about holding negotiations ... it is about finding a peaceful solution,” he added. –