India to attend Taliban talks, at ‘non-official’ level

New Delhi, November 8

In a first, India will be a participant in multilateral talks with the Afghan Taliban in the same room, but at a “non-official level”. 

Russia will be hosting discussion on Afghanistan and steps towards political reconciliation in the war-torn country for the second time on Friday. The talks, previously scheduled in September, were postponed after the Ashraf Ghani government pulled out, calling it “unnecessary” in view of the Taliban’s rejection of “peace and direct negotiations”.  

 The meeting will bring together deputy foreign ministers and special representatives from 12 countries, including Iran, China, Pakistan and the US . 

“India supports all efforts at peace and reconciliation,” the MEA said. — TNS