Pakistan, India to discuss Afghan reconciliation in Moscow talks
Talks hosted by Russia are scheduled to be convened in mid February
LAHORE (Web Desk) – Pakistan and India are to sit together besides four other countries mid-February in Russian capital to discuss ramping up reconciliation process in Afghanistan, Russian media reported Tuesday.
Talks hosted by Russia are scheduled to be convened in mid-February and attended by Iran, Afghanistan and China besides India, Pakistan and the host, Russia.
United States has not been invited to participate in the six-nation talks as President Donald J. Trump is yet to make state’s policy clear over Afghanistan.
Moscow-hosted sitting holds added significance as India has been exclusively invited for the first time to discuss the future of Afghanistan. It should be noted here that Pakistan and India are part of Heart of Asia Istanbul initiative.
It is believed out of credible evidence that Indian intelligence agencies including Research and Analysis Wing have been sponsoring Taliban in Afghanistan to fan extremism in Pakistan through the porous border at Torkham.
To counter the stance, Indian authorities have alleged Islamabad of playing role in terror attacks in India over the past years but no evidence has been forwarded to either the ministry or the army.
While announcing the six-state talk in Moscow in coming days, Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov stated that Taliban must be included in constructive dialogue. He was accompanied by his Afghanistan counterpart, Salahuddin Rabbani when the announcement was made.
No comments have been made over whether the two arch-rivals would be able to use the platform to further dialgoue over outstanding issues besides Afghanistan process.
It should be added here that the development has come in over a week after India moved to object to Pakistan s recommended diplomat, Amjad Hussain Sial as the 13th Secretary General of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
India had pulled out of 19th SAARC summit leading to postponement of the conference that was to be hosted by Islamabad.
