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The Express Tribune (22 September 2018)

Afghanistan government functionaries have expressed readiness to meet Taliban representatives in a Moscow meeting, TOLO News reported on Friday. 

Afghan government under pressure as Taliban threaten new district

The meeting was scheduled for September 4 earlier. Kabul, however, refused to participate just days before. Russia’s Special Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov confirmed work on the content of the Moscow meet was underway, Russia’s Tass News Agency reported quoting Izvestia newspaper.

Kabulov said he had spoken with Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Nasir Ahmad Andisha. Andisha said details of the conference were being worked out.

“Kabul is determined to participate in Moscow-hosted meeting. Now we are in the process of developing modalities for this participation. Currently, the main thing is not the date, but the content, so this is the part that we are working on,” Izvestia quoted Kabulov.

In August, a delegation from the Afghan Taliban met Uzbekistan officials during a five-day trip to the country. Issues including transport, power lines and peace in Afghanistan were discussed, the movement’s political office said. Muhammad Sohail Shaheen, spokesperson for the Taliban’s political office, said Taliban representatives met Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdul Aziz Kamilov and Special Representative for Afghanistan Ismatulla Irgashev during the August 6-10 visit.

He said they “discussed current and future national projects such as security for railroad and power lines. Views were also exchanged with officials of Uzbekistan about the withdrawal of foreign forces and how to achieve peace in Afghanistan.”

This article originally appeared on TOLO News.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1808944/3-afghan-officials-ready-meet-taliban-representatives-russia/