News / Afghanistan

Russia says Taliban ready for Afghan talks in Moscow

Wednesday, 19 September 2018 3:51 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 19 September 2018 3:54 PM ]

The file photo shows Afghan security forces patrolling along a road in the city of Ghazni, August 14, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

The Russian Foreign Ministry says the Taliban militant group is prepared to attend multiparty talks on Afghanistan in Moscow.

On Wednesday, Russian media quoted Afghanistan's embassy as saying that the country’s deputy foreign minister was expected to visit Moscow on Thursday to discuss the dates of a new round of Moscow peace talks on Afghanistan.

Russia had been preparing to host the peace talks on September 4 and had invited 12 countries, including the United States, and Taliban representatives to participate.

The talks, however, were postponed following a request by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

PressTV-Russia says Afghan peace talks postponed

Russia says Afghan peace talks have been postponed following a phone conversation between Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Afghan leader Ashraf Ghani.

The Taliban were ousted from power in 2001 following a US-led invasion. That war, which continues to this day, has failed to bring stability to the country despite the presence of thousands of foreign forces.

The militants have recently stepped up their attacks in Afghanistan.

The United Nations said in a recent statement that blasts, attacks and clashes between militants and Afghan forces killed over 1,600 civilians in the first six months of the year, the highest number in the past decade.

While the Taliban militant group has rejected an offer of talks from the Afghan government, it has been holding negotiations with the United States.

Earlier this month, the Taliban said they planned to send a delegation for further talks with US officials.