The talk between the Afghan government and the Taliban will take place in Moscow today. US Special Representative Zalmai Khalilzad will also attend the talks.
Delegates from Pakistan, China, Iran, Turkey and Qatar will attend the meeting. Abdullah Abdullah will lead a 12-member delegation from the Afghan government. The Taliban delegation will be represented by Mullah Ghani, head of the Afghan political office.
The Biden administration had suggested that an interim government be formed for Afghanistan to agree on a new constitution and hold elections, and that a joint commission to monitor the ceasefire.
According to the German news agency DW, President Ashraf Ghani has refused to step down for the interim government, saying that we will never recognize any interim system established by any conference or political agreement.
According to an agreement reached between the United States and the Taliban in Doha, the United States has to withdraw all its troops from Afghanistan by May 1. On that condition, the Taliban backed talks with President Ashraf Ghani’s government.
The Washington administration wants to reactivate the peace talks and is trying to persuade the Afghan Taliban and the Kabul government to agree on a form of power-sharing.
The Moscow government also wants an interim government in Afghanistan. However, President Ashraf Ghani’s government has vehemently rejected the idea. Also on Tuesday, he rejected a proposal that new elections be the only way to transfer power in Afghanistan.
