Russia to host Taliban, other Afghan parties for talks

MOSCOW – Russia is set to host the Taliban and other Afghan factions for talks this month, a senior Russian diplomat said Thursday. Zamir Kabulov, the Kremlin envoy on Afghanistan, said there will be a meeting of the so-called “Moscow format” talks involving the Taliban and various other Afghan parties in Moscow on Oct. 20. He didn’t say who would represent the Taliban. Kabulov also said that diplomats from Russia, the United States, China and Pakistan will hold talks on Afghanistan this month.