Moscow: Russia on Friday hosted a conference on Afghanistan to create “favourable conditions for the start of direct talks” with the Taliban whose representatives were present at the high-profile meeting which was attended by India for the first time.
“We are determined to make every possible effort to facilitate the opening of a new page in the history of Afghanistan,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, opening the second Moscow meeting on Afghanistan.
He said Russia and the countries of the region will continue to do everything possible to launch dialogue between Afghanistan’s government and the Taliban (banned in Russia), the state-run Itar Tass news agency reported.
Addressing the gathering, Lavrov said the conference was “aimed at building an inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue in order to advance the national reconciliation process.” “All countries of the region and the entire international community would like to see Afghanistan as a peaceful, independent and prospering country, free of terrorism and drug trafficking,” Lavrov said.
He said the issues Afghanistan has been facing can be resolved only through political means. “That said, we welcome the delegations of the Afghan High Peace Council and the Taliban movement,” Lavrov said. “Their participation in today’s event is intended to make an important contribution to efforts to create conditions for direct talks between the government, the Taliban movement, public and political circles.”
He outlined the threat posed by the Islamic State group in Afghanistan and said the group has relied on foreign sponsors in a bid to “turn Afghanistan into a springboard for its expansion in Central Asia.”
The US Embassy in Moscow has sent a diplomat to observe Friday’s discussions at the meeting which is being attended by representatives from Afghanistan, India, Iran, China, Pakistan and some other countries. India on Thursday said it will participate in the meeting on Afghanistan at a “non-official level” in Moscow. (PTI)
