Add InterestThe Taliban said Monday they will participate in what they call "intra-Afghan" talks in Moscow designed to bring together prominent Afghan figures, including former President Hamid Karzai, opposition figures and tribal elders — but no Kabul government officials. However, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's office criticized the meeting in Moscow, saying that Afghan politicians attending the gathering were doing so "in order to gain power." A statement released on Monday by Afghans attending the Moscow meeting described it as "the first step toward intra-Afghan dialogue." The Taliban are the biggest obstacle to peace, Abdullah said, but if the Moscow meeting creates "an opening for real peace talks, it would still be a step forward." The Moscow gathering is likely to further isolate Ghani, who has been irked by Khalilzad's direct talks with the Taliban as well as the U.S. envoy's successive rounds of talks in regional countries.

Source: ABC News February 04, 2019 06:07 UTC