Moscow (CNN)Representatives of the Taliban took a spot at a conference tabular array inward Moscow on Fri with members of Afghanistan's High Peace Council, inward a forum the Russian Foreign Ministry has billed every bit an unprecedented event. To last clear, Friday's discussions are non peace talks. In opening remarks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday's conference -- the minute session inward a serial dubbed the "Moscow format" -- was meant to encourage an atmosphere for dialogue betwixt the warring sides inward Afghanistan's long-running civil war. "The participation of the Taliban movement volition last a large contribution to the formation of a skilful surroundings for the straight talks betwixt the government, the Taliban movement too representatives of broad civil too political circles of the country," he said.
The really populace presence of the Taliban inward Moscow, however, is striking. The militant grouping has been previously designated every bit a terrorist organization yesteryear the Russian government, too Lavrov acknowledged the "mutual resentments too mistrust" that linger betwixt the warring sides.
This is non the showtime fourth dimension Taliban representatives own got engaged inward dialogue with members of the High Peace Council, a trunk originally gear upwardly yesteryear one-time Afghan President Hamid Karzai. But Friday's coming together brought together delegates from governments inward the region, including those of Pakistan, Republic of Republic of India too Central Asian republics of the one-time Soviet Union. The U.S. of A. also sent a diplomat from its diplomatic mission inward Moscow every bit an observer.
Organizing the coming together has required a fragile diplomatic dance. In August, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that the Taliban would accept component inward a coming together planned for September, but the Russians later agreed to postpone those talks at the asking of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
Russia said Ghani agreed to shipping the delegation to Friday's meeting. But Afghan officials own got emphasized that the High Peace Council was non formally representing the Afghan government. Sibghatullah Ahmadi, the spokesperson for the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Russian province tidings means RIA Novosti that Kabul, after negotiations with Moscow, decided non to participate inward this coming together every bit a government.
The Taliban similar a shot controls to a greater extent than territory than at whatsoever fourth dimension since the U.S. of A. invaded inward 2001.
Russia's long game
Previous efforts to broker peace inward Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan own got faltered. The Taliban opened a political utilisation inward Qatar inward 2013 every bit component of a U.S.-supported endeavor to make a platform for peace talks. But the opening of the Qatar utilisation infuriated Karzai, who was angered yesteryear what became a publicity coup for the Taliban after they raised their flag over the utilisation too gave it the trappings of an embassy. Since then, the Taliban own got made to a greater extent than territorial gains. The Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction, a congressionally mandated watchdog, lately issued a study proverb the Taliban similar a shot controls to a greater extent than territory than at whatsoever fourth dimension since the U.S. of A. invaded inward 2001. Violence has continued, too Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan has seen record numbers of civilian casualties.
Meanwhile, Russian Federation is playing a long game inward Central Asia. The Russian authorities too the U.S. of A. i time shared a mutual stimulate inward fighting the Taliban: Moscow i time actively backed the Northern Alliance inward its make out against the Taliban for command of Afghanistan, too joined Washington inward supporting United Nations sanctions against the Taliban during their rule.
After the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, Russian President Vladimir Putin fifty-fifty consented to U.S. of A. plans to constitute bases inward Central Asia, Russia's strategic backyard, every bit component of the drive to topple the Taliban.
But relations betwixt Washington too Moscow own got soured inward recent years, too U.S. of A. officials own got defendant Russian Federation of hedging its bets yesteryear supplying arms to the Taliban.
Russia denies arming the Taliban, but readily admits its stepped-up diplomatic outreach to the militant group.
On Friday, such efforts appeared to last bearing fruit. Much every bit inward Syria, where Russian Federation has brokered successive rounds of peace talks, Moscow appears intent on shaping outcomes every bit the warring sides fumble toward a peace process.
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