Russia is hosting talks for peace in Afghanistan and has invited several nations, including India, to be a part of the meetings
New Delhi: India will attend an unofficial multilateral meeting with the Afghan Taliban on Friday in Moscow.
This will be the first time that India will be sharing talks with the Taliban on issues of peace and stability in Afghanistan.
"We are aware that the Russian Federation is hosting a meeting in Moscow on November 9 on Afghanistan," said external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.
"India supports all efforts for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan that will preserve unity and plurality, and bring security, stability, and prosperity to the country," Kumar said.
"India's consistent policy has been that such efforts should be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, and Afghan-controlled and with the participation of the government of Afghanistan. Our participation at the meeting will be at the non-official level," he added.
According to Sputnik news agency, Russia has sent invitations for what is called the Moscow format talks to Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, the US, and the Afghan Taliban.
The Indian move comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to New Delhi last month for the annual bilateral summit with Prime Minister Modi.
A joint statement issued following the summit said that both India and Russia supported the Afghan government's efforts towards the realization of an Afghan-led, and Afghan-owned national peace reconciliation process.
"Concerned with unabated violence, the (two) sides resolved to work through the Moscow Format, SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) Contact Group on Afghanistan, and all other recognised formats for an early resolution to the conflict in Afghanistan," the statement said.
With agency inputs
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