ISLAMABAD – Afghanistan will not attend peace talks hosted by Russia, twosenior government officials said on Wednesday, a decision that couldscupper Moscow’s plans for a multinational conference also involving theTaliban to discuss the future of the country.

The decision not to attend the Moscow conference scheduled for Sept. 4 camejust hours after Afghanistan’s top security official said he hoped Russiacould press the Taliban insurgents into joining peace talks with the Kabulgovernment.

Russia has invited 12 countries, including the United States, to the Moscowtalks but Washington has also declined to attend. The Taliban, which thisweek rejected a government offer of a three-month ceasefire, have yet tosay whether they will attend the Moscow talks.

“We have decided against attending the Moscow conference,” said an officialof the Afghan foreign ministry, adding that the government would “holddirect talks” with the Taliban without the direct involvement of foreignpowers.

The official gave no reason for the decision.

A senior Kabul-based foreign diplomat whose country is among those invitedto the Moscow talks said Russia would now have to “rethink the plans tohold their talks with the Taliban”.

“Its no point holding talks about Afghanistan if the leaders of the countryare not attending it,” the diplomat said, speaking on condition ofanonymity.

The Russian Embassy in Kabul was not immediately available to comment.