MOSCOW – The Afghan-Taliban have confirmed to participate in the two-dayintra-Afghan talks starting in Moscow on Tuesday.

The meeting designed to bring together prominent Afghan figures, includingformer President Hamid Karzai, opposition leaders and tribal elders exceptKabul government officials is seen as another step toward endingAfghanistan’s 17-year war.

Meanwhile, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s Chief Adviser, Fazel Fazly, ina tweet has criticised the Afghan politicians attending the gathering,saying that they were doing so to gain power.

Earlier, Taliban had refused to talk to Ghani’s government, which theydenounce as a US puppet.