Regional players to meet in Russia on Afghanistan

Moscow Format is scheduled to take place in Kazan on Sept 29

ISLAMABAD:

Key regional players are gathering in Russia later this week to discuss the current Afghan situation, particularly the progress towards the inclusive government the Afghan Taliban promised to form after coming to power in Aug 2021.

The meeting of what is known as ‘Moscow Format’ is scheduled to take place in the Russian city of Kazan on Sept 29.

Pakistan, Russia, China, India and Central Asian states are part of the group established in 2017 to build a regional consensus on the way forward for Afghanistan.

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The group met last year in November where the Afghan Taliban were urged to form an inclusive government. The Afghan Taliban government was not invited to the meeting.

However, this time the invitation was extended to the interim Afghan government. Interim Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Monday left for Russia to attend the ‘Moscow Format’ meeting.

Russian special envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov told the Russian news agency TASS that the upcoming meeting would focus on the topic of inclusivity of the incumbent Afghan government, counterterrorism, and drug-related crime.

"So far, we have seen no progress on this issue. This is why we convene, in order to continue our work," Kabulov noted.

Earlier, Russian Ambassador Dmitry Zhirnov requested that Muttaqi attend the Moscow Format meeting.

The Afghan Taliban government said it considers holding the meeting important, as differences between the Islamic Emirate and other countries can be resolved through dialogue.

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"At the meetings, there should be a spirit of cooperation with Afghans and resolving conflicts through dialogue. The Islamic Emirate prefers that all problems, concerns, or demands should be shared with us and discussed directly," Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, said.

The Pakistani delegation is expected to be led by Ambassador Asif Durrani, the special envoy for Afghanistan.

The Moscow Format comes at a time when Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban relations are tense over the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Last week, Ambassador Durani and senior army officials visited Kabul to deliver a clear message regarding the TTP.

It was said the Afghan Taliban agreed to take tangible steps to neutralise the TTP threat.

The TTP has emerged as a major stumbling block between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban. Despite repeated demands, the Afghan Taliban have been reluctant to take action against the TTP.

Their reluctance stems from the fact that Afghan Taliban have fought alongside the TTP against the US-led foreign forces in Afghanistan.

Observers believe that the Afghan Taliban consider the TTP as their “guests” and hence have been persuading Pakistan to find a political solution to the problem.

Pakistan did try to have a negotiated settlement but the talks could not make progress as the TTP stepped up attacks against the security forces.

Pakistan is no longer seeking peace talks with the TTP and made it clear that the only way the process of negotiations can be resumed is if terrorists submit to the writ of the state and lay down their arms.