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Moscow adopts joint statement following talks on Afghanistan

Saturday, 20 March 2021 1:01 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 20 March 2021 1:08 AM ]

Marina Kortunova

Press TV, Moscow

Peace talks between the Afghanistan government and Taliban militants have concluded in Moscow.

In a joint statement, the expanded troika - Russia, China, the United States and Pakistan - asked the Taliban not to start a spring-summer offensive campaign, and also appealed to all participants in the inter-Afghan dialogue to discuss the creation of the "inclusive government".

The Daesh group is trying to use the armed confrontation in Afghanistan to strengthen its position in the country. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during trilateral talks on Afghanistan in Moscow.

Afghanistan's former president Hamid Karzai said the peace process and cooperation between major players in Afghanistan were at the center of the Moscow talks. The head of the delegation from the Afghan government, Abdullah Abdullah noted that as soon as the peace process starts, the need for international troops in the country will disappear.

About a year ago the Taliban signed an agreement with the US, which called for the withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan within 14 months. The period expires on May 1. However, it seems new US President Biden has a different view on the Afghan crisis and does not hurry to pull out the US troops. If the US fails to fulfill their part of the agreement, observers say, it can lead to a new crisis.

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