ISLAMABAD – India joined talks with the Taliban for the first in amultilateral meeting on Friday on Russia’s invitation for a peace call.
Moscow on Friday hosted international talks on Afghanistan aimed atkickstarting direct negotiations between Kabul and the Taliban militantgroup, both of whom sent delegations, AFP reported.
Moscow said it had invited representatives from the United States as wellas India, Iran, China, Pakistan and five former Soviet republics in CentralAsia.
This is the first time that a Taliban delegation is taking part in suchhigh-level international meeting, Russian foreign ministry spokeswomanMaria Zakharova said Thursday.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told AFP that the militant group wassending five representatives.
The Taliban is banned from operating Russia as it is classified as a”terrorist organisation”.
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India will be part of the talks at a non-official level and will berepresented by Amar Sinha, who has served as India’s ambassador toAfghanistan and T.C.A Raghvan, former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan.
Pakistan would “definitely” attend, foreign ministry spokesman MuhammadFaisal told AFP.
India’s unprecedented move came after Russia’s Vladimir Putin visited NewDelhi last month for an annual bilateral summit with prime ministerNarendra Modi. – APP/AFP
