Afghanistan: new conference in Moscow in the presence of the Taliban and the American envoy

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad meet in Kabul on March 15, 2021, ahead of a conference in Moscow.

via REUTERS - Presidential Palace

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

While the resumption of negotiations in Doha, under the aegis of Washington, is long overdue, diplomatic efforts are increasing to reach an agreement in Afghanistan between the government and the Taliban.

The parties are meeting in Moscow during a meeting this Thursday, March 18, which is intended to be "complementary" to American initiatives and which marks Russia's role in the matter.

But Moscow also hopes to pull out of the Afghan game.

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With our correspondent in Moscow, 

Daniel Vallot

“ 

Promoting peace negotiations, reducing violence and putting an end to armed conflict

 ”: behind this official objective hides Moscow's desire to play the role of intermediary

in Afghanistan

.

Because for Russia, it is first of all a question of ensuring the security of the countries of Central Asia, bordering on Afghanistan, considered by Moscow as part of its zone of influence.

The terrorist risk, and that of a jihadist infiltration from Afghanistan, is thus among the priorities of Russian diplomacy.

Added to this is the desire to return to an area that Russia had neglected for several decades.

More than 30 years have passed since the end of the war in Afghanistan and the departure of Soviet troops

, and Vladimir Putin now believes that his country must play a role again.

Finally, there is the prospect, always enticing in the eyes of the Kremlin, of scoring points

where the United States seems in difficulty

.

Washington took a rather dim view of Russia's efforts on the Afghan file.

But American diplomacy now seems to consider that any external aid is good to take.

Unlike the meetings organized in the past in Moscow

, this one will therefore be in the presence of Zalmay Khalilzad, the American envoy for Afghanistan.

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See also: 

Afghanistan: Joe Biden's crisis exit plan raises concern

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  • Russia

  • Afghanistan

  • Taliban

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  • Diplomacy

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