Moscow meeting doesn’t replace Doha talks: US

KABUL (Pajhwok): The US State Department says this week’s Moscow conference on Afghanistan does not replace the peace talks in Doha.

Afghan government and Taliban representatives launched the negotiations in the Qatar capital in September. However, the two sides have been unable so far to achieve any breakthrough.

Jalina Porter, deputy spokeswoman for the State Department, told reporters on Tuesday that the Moscow huddle would not replace the intra-Afghan dialogue in Doha.

“As far as the meeting in Moscow, it’s correct US Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad plans to travel on March 18 to this meeting, but let’s just be clear, this doesn’t replace other ongoing talks in Doha,” Reuters quoted her as saying.

A 16-member government delegation, led by the High Council for National Reconciliation (HNRC) chairman, will attend the Moscow meeting.

The delegation includes Wolesi Jirga Speaker Mir Rahman Rahmani and former president Hamid Karzai, Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum, Mohammad Karim Khalili, Gulbadin Hekmatyar and others.

A 10-member Taliban delegation would also travel to Russia to attend the meeting, Dr. Mohammad Naeem, spokesman for the Taliban’s political office, confirmed yesterday.

The conference being held at the initiative of the US, Russia and China will also be attended by the representatives of Pakistan and Qatar.

PAN Monitor/mud

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