MPs welcome Moscow talks but insist on Afghan leadership

KABUL members welcomed the Moscow meeting on Afghan peace process, but insisted such meetings should be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned.

Moscow hosted peace talks on Friday with delegations from the High Peace Council, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and the US.

Zmarek Padkhwabi, a lower house member from Kabul, told today’s session that such meetings would only waste time and the Afghan government should discuss peace with the United States and Pakistan.

Nader Khan Katawazi from southeastern Paktia province, while welcoming the Moscow summit, stressed the Afghans must lead such events.

He urged regional countries, especially Russia, to push the Taliban into direct talks with the Afghan government.

However, Lawmaker Arian Youn from Nangarhar province hoped such meetings would establish peace in Afghanistan.

She urged the Afghan government and the international community to take practical steps for ensuring peace and supporting certain moots.

Wolesi Jirga speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi said the Taliban had intensified their attacks in some provinces in order to have leverage in peace talks, saying: “the Afghans support and welcome any peace meeting in each country.” He also stressed the need for the Afghan government leadership in such summits.

sa/ma