Taliban to join Moscow moot

Taliban to join Moscow moot

Dr. Jassim Taqui

In a major development in the turbulent Afghan civil war, Taliban has agreed to participate in the 12-nation Moscow moot to be held on 14^th April next.

The process of informal consultations was initially started by Pakistan, China, and Russia in December and was expanded to six-nation talks in mid-February with the participation of Afghanistan, India, and Iran. The US, some Central Asian states, and the EU will also be invited to next month’s meeting.

Afghanistan welcomed the Russian Federation’s recent position with regards to peace and stability in Afghanistan which states that their recent contacts with Afghan armed groups are aimed at promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.

Taliban fighters have to lay down their arms, cut their ties with terrorist groups and join the peace talks to ensure durable peace and stability and end fighting in Afghanistan.

Moscow has won the support of all main players by showing commitment to the facilitation of peace in the region. Moscow affirmed that  the contacts with the Taliban were only aimed at national reconciliation in Afghanistan.

Pakistan and Chia complimented the Russian diplomacy by using pressure on Taliban to join the Afghan reconciliation process.

Russia is writing history by advocating peace in resolving the regional conflict. It is hoped that the four main players (US, Iran, India and Pakistan) would stop interfering into the internal affairs of Afghanistan.