The signing of an agreement between the United States and the radical Taliban movement (outlawed in Russia) on February 29 should open the way for launching a direct inter-Afghan dialogue, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said.
"An agreement between the United States and the Taliban is scheduled to be signed on February 29. The Russian side has repeatedly stated that there is no alternative to political and diplomatic methods for resolving the conflict in Afghanistan, supporting the above-mentioned negotiations, which should open the way to launching a direct inclusive inter-Afghan dialogue on peace and achieving a political settlement in this country", the diplomat said.
The signing of the agreement will take place in the capital of Qatar, Doha, in the presence of representatives of a number of countries and organizations as observers. Russia will be represented by the President's Special Representative for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Mikhail Tereshchenko / TASS