Afghanistan hopes that the Moscow format talks dedicated to finding a resolution to the conflict in the Islamic republic will result in a direct dialogue between Kabul and the Taliban movement, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 09th November, 2018) Afghanistan hopes that the Moscow format talks dedicated to finding a resolution to the conflict in the Islamic republic will result in a direct dialogue between Kabul and the Taliban movement, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
Earlier on Friday, Moscow hosted the second round of negotiations on Afghanistan. The talks involved the Afghan High Peace Council and, for the first time, the political office of the Taliban group in Doha, along with 10 other countries.
"The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan hopes that, in accordance with the agreements between Afghanistan and Russia, this meeting should result in the launch of direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban movement. Taliban will have no opportunity to use this conference for other purposes," the ministry said in a communique.
The Afghan Foreign Ministry appreciates any foreign assistance in settling the Afghan conflict but pointed out that any reconciliation process should be carried out under the auspices of the Afghan government.
"In accordance with the principles and decisions of the meetings in Tashkent and the Kabul process, the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban movement should start a face-to-face dialogue and we reaffirm the need to follow the principles adopted at these meetings, based on internal and external unanimity on how to conduct the peace process, therefore, we did not send any representative to the meetings in Moscow," the ministry added.
The previous round of consultations took place in mid-April last year and was attended by deputy foreign ministers and special representatives of 11 countries interested in achieving peace in Afghanistan.
