MOSCOW – The Taliban plans to take part in Afghanistan peace talks inMoscow on September 4, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted assaying by Interfax news agency on Tuesday.
Lavrov’s ministry said in a statement that Russia had invited 12 countries,including the United States, to international talks, which come as Moscowis taking a more prominent role on Afghanistan.
Moscow supported an Afghan government offer of a three-month ceasefire, andregretted that the Taliban rejected the offer on Monday, the ministry said.
Foreign Ministry official Zamir Kabulov was cited by Interfax on Monday assaying Moscow had invited the Taliban, which is banned in Russia andconsidered a terrorist organisation.
Abdul Kayum Kuchai, Afghanistan`s ambassador in Moscow, welcomed theTaliban`s involvement in the talks, the RIA news agency reported.
Russia conducted international talks on Afghanistan in April last year, butthe United States did not attend, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.