ISLAMABAD: Afghan Taliban on Tuesday said their political representatives would attend the upcoming meeting of the representatives of regional countries in Russia on peace in Afghanistan on November 9.
“Taliban political envoys will attend the meeting but the participation does not mean they will hold talks with anyone. This is a meeting to debate the current situation in Afghanistan,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.
“The meeting will discuss the end of American invasion, identify problems and deliberate on regional peace,” Mujahid said in a brief statement.
Taliban political sources said Sher Abbas Stanekzai, head of the Taliban Qatar office, would lead the delegation.
The Russian Foreign Ministry had sent invitations for the event to Afghanistan, India, Iran, China, Pakistan, the US and some other countries, TASS news agency reported.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had also decided to send a delegation of the High Peace Council to the meeting.
The Moscow-format consultations were earlier scheduled for September 4, but were postponed after Afghan government refused to attend on the plea that all meetings on Afghanistan should be Afghan-led. The US had also announced to stay away from the September meeting.
Diplomatic sources said Russia had extended invitation to US Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation Zamaly Khalizad to attend the meeting.
Taliban participation in the Moscow-format consultations is important as they will be viewed as a political entity in a very important meeting being attended by at least 11 countries. Taliban participation will also provide an opportunity for the Afghan peace council’s members to interact with them informally.
Diplomatic sources told Daily Times on Sunday that there was no specific agenda and all participants would be requested to share their views about political solution to the Afghan conflict.
Additional Secretary at the Foreign Office Muhammad Aejaz will lead Pakistani delegation, sources said.
Pakistan has long been insisting that it will take part in all events, which can help bring peace in Afghanistan and is joining the Moscow-format consultations as part of the same strategy.
Russia launched the Moscow-format consultations in 2017 as part of its diplomatic efforts to press for political solution to the Afghan problem.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova said on October 25 that the main objective of these contacts was to ensure the safety of Russian nationals in Afghanistan and contribute to the national reconciliation process.
She also rejected claim by the US that Russia was providing support to the Taliban, adding that the US and some other nations also have ‘regular contacts’ with the Taliban. The Moscow-format meeting has assumed importance as it takes place at a time when the Taliban and the US officials have already held two meetings in Qatar. The Russian initiative could evolve a regional consensus on the political solution to the problem.
Taliban have further strengthened their political team in Qatar with the induction of five senior leaders, who had been freed by the US in 2014 in a prisoner swap deal. “The participation of the new members in political team is an indication that the Taliban are serious in the political process,” a Taliban leader said.
Published in Daily Times, November 7th 2018.
