Iran is set to dispatch its representative to partake in the forthcoming Moscow-format meeting concerning Afghanistan, scheduled to take place in Kazan on September 29. The ISNA news agency of Iran reported this development, citing the official spokesperson of the country's Foreign Ministry, Nasser Kanani.
"As far as we are aware, the host country's government has extended an invitation to a delegation from the Taliban (the extremist Taliban group is banned in Russia - TASS) to participate in this meeting," Kanani further remarked.
Zamir Kabulov, the Russian President's Special Representative for Afghanistan and Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Second Asia Department, informed TASS that consultations within the Moscow format concerning Afghanistan are scheduled for September 29 in Kazan. He highlighted that the central theme of the meeting will revolve around the inclusiveness of the interim government in Afghanistan, which has been formed by the Taliban.
Kabulov further disclosed that the Taliban delegation has confirmed its attendance.
The Moscow Format on Afghanistan was established in 2017 to facilitate the progress of the national reconciliation process in Afghanistan. It encompasses Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan. The most recent meeting in this framework happened in Moscow in November 2022, during which representatives from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey participated as guests.
The Taliban has expressed its support for the Moscow format on Afghanistan and as well as its interest in participating in forthcoming consultations.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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Based on materials from TASS