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Peace talks in Moscow 'not about holding negotiations', say Taliban
Moscow on Friday hosted international talks on Afghanistan aimed at kickstarting direct negotiations between Kabul and the Taliban militant group, both of whom sent delegations.
Russia hopes “through joint efforts to open a new page in the history of Afghanistan,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said as the talks opened at a Moscow hotel on Friday morning.
He said that the participation of both Afghan leaders and the Taliban was an "important contribution" aimed at creating "favourable conditions for the start of direct talks".
"I am counting on you holding a serious and constructive conversation that will justify the hopes of the Afghan people,” he said before the talks continued behind closed doors.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told AFP that the militant group was sending five representatives. They will not hold “any sort of negotiations” with the delegation of Kabul administration, he said.
“This conference is not about holding negotiations with any party whatsoever, rather it is about finding a peaceful solution to the issue of Afghanistan,” he added.
This is the first time that a Taliban delegation is taking part in such high-level international meeting, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.
The Taliban is banned from operating in Russia as it is classified as a "terrorist organisation".
The Afghan delegation is made up of four representatives of the High Peace Council, a government body responsible for reconciliation efforts with the militants, spokesman Sayed Ihsan Taheri said.
The Afghan foreign ministry has emphasised that the council does not represent the Afghan government at the meeting, however.
Moscow said it had invited representatives from the United States (US) as well as India, Iran, China, Pakistan and five former Soviet republics in Central Asia.
Pakistan, which has long been accused of providing support to the Afghan Taliban, would “definitely” attend, foreign ministry spokesman Muhammad Faisal told AFP.
The US embassy in Moscow was sending a representative to observe the discussions.
The Moscow meeting was initially scheduled to take place in September but was postponed after Kabul insisted that the process should be Afghan-led.
The meeting comes at a sensitive time. Newly appointed US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has been trying to convince the Taliban to agree to negotiate an end to the war and there are fears the Russian meeting could derail those efforts.
A US government watchdog last week said Kabul's control of Afghanistan had slipped in recent months as local security forces suffered record casualties while making minimal or no progress against the Taliban.
Comments (40) Closed
Does anybody really understand the agenda of the Taliban? What is their contribution to the present day world as we see it.
I don't think the so called 'peace talk' will produce any positive results, it will be just a brain stroming excercise to find out what other sides views are. A meaningful dialogues and sincere efforts are the best way to resolve difference - in this case, it will be just another frutile meeting.
Such high level delegation
Rough work for peace, good luck..!
Taliban should contest elections and prove its majority.
Curb the Taliban movement. All the problem will be resolve automatically.
nothing will gain from theses peace talk. until the resolve of difference sincerely.
Taliban can't/won't be defeated. That much must be clear to everyone.
@Prateik, if you read history the US has always overthrown native democracies with voilent coups and has always supported and nurtured repressive regimes around the world.
Why is India there ? Any takers for answering?.
@Prateik you think U.S. will allow them to win election?That will be a huge embarrassment for U.S. and U.S. will face opposition back home, if Talibans win. So U.S. will not allow them to win and Talibans know it. So no point in joining the election.
Yes. It’s about arms supply. Russia is ready to play American game.
@Joe,
Because, it is invited.
@Joe, Because India’s efforts for Peace keeping are recognised!
@josef, I believe the entire world understands their agenda and motives. To bring death and destruction in every part of the world. And they have succeeded for the most part.
@josef, the same as USA’s....Terorrism.
The Russians are brokering these talks because, they want to see the people of Afghanistan live peacefully? If it weren't for the Russians invading Afghanistan couple of decades ago, the world wouldn't be in the mess its in today. These fighters went from being the freedom fighters to death squads overnight.
India has been supporting Afghan terrorists for too long now.
Putin is the worlds best leader and for peace but with many war driven countries USA and NATO Peace will be impossible
@josef, The Taliban works for the CIA and was started by the Bush administration. They are being trained by American backed Saudi
America all ready has Reps. there... They are called the Taliban for whom works for the CIA invented by the Bush regime
@josef, but at the same time does anybody understand the agenda of those who is organising this event,this is nothing but only power game therefore to mislead masses.
Time to stop killing innocent people. Time to talk peace. No sense creating orphans a widows.
@josef, At the same time does anybody understand that what is the agenda of those who is organising this event, this is nothing but only a power game therefore to mislead the whole world.
@Joe, because india sponsors terrorist attacks against Pakistan from Afghan soil.
Keep talking.
@Joe, Because India has built roads, hospitals, parliament buildings in Afghanistan and Chahbahar Port in Iran of which Afghanistan is a beneficiary. There are many Afghan students in India. India’s total aid to Afghanistan is above $1 billion. That’s why India is there.
Taliban have killed thousands of civilians, women, children. When will it stop ?
I hope they achieve some success. End this conflict as soon as possible.
@Harun , I am sure you are being ironic here.
@josef, what has the US accomplished in that part of the world to begin with? All 911 attackers were Saudis but I don't see the US taking its democracy there.
Payback back time
If almost 20 years of war has not brought peace then clearly all foreign forces must leave as history proves it. Leave it to Afghani people. No point telling Afghans how to live. They know better
We may support these talks for peace in the region for our next generations
@Achilles, Can you turn the question and answer yourself whether Taliban will allow anybody else to win the elections, if they participate?
@josef,
their agenda is to throw foreign invaders out.
@josef, they were the tool that took out a world super power. They were russia's vietnamese. Now they are being forged to bring balance and be Saigon for the west once more. Peace is a far fetched drean in the world's feudal mindset.
@Harun , they are there for their share of the pie.
@Joe, because ,it was wanted by both Russian and Afghanistan government.
It is reality check of everybody by everyone.