KABUL – Senior Taliban leaders and Afghan politicians are expected totravel to Moscow on Tuesday for talks on Afghanistan peace, Reutersreported Thursday.
According to the report, the Afghan government has not been invited so asto ensure the participation of the Taliban, TOLO News has reported.
One Russian official told Reuters on condition of anonymity that “at thissensitive stage, it was best to not have Afghan government officials at thetable.”
The Taliban has until now refused to meet with the Afghan government todiscuss peace, branding the administration puppets of the United States.
Reuters reported that the Moscow talks is Russia’s way to promote its roleof power broker in what a US official called an attempt to “muddle” theUS-backed peace process.
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These talks follow on the heels of the US-Taliban talks in Doha, Qatar lastweek.
Early this week, the US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad briefed the Afghanmedia on last week’s discussions and said the key for finding the solutionfor Afghan problems is now in the hands of Afghans.
He also said a framework had been drawn up in terms of moving forward.
