Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – Tehran hosted the “Moscow Format” talks on Afghanistan this Saturday, bringing together representatives from Russia, China, Iran, and Pakistan. This meeting is a precursor to the third Doha summit on Afghanistan, scheduled for June 30 and July 1.
Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s special envoy for Afghanistan, highlighted that the Tehran meeting aims to align regional strategies ahead of the Doha summit. He noted that the consultations in Tehran are part of broader discussions, primarily led by civil society groups and political exiles focused on Afghanistan.
The “Moscow Format” meetings, initiated by Russia, are held periodically across different countries to address the evolving situation in Afghanistan. These meetings have various objectives, such as promoting an inclusive Afghan government and combating drug trafficking and terrorism. The Tehran talks will specifically focus on preparations for the upcoming Doha summit.
The Doha summit, organized by the United Nations, has spurred a series of regional consultations, including the recent Ankara meeting and various discussions led by the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to TASS, Kabulov confirmed ongoing dialogue with Afghan leaders and UN officials in preparation for the Tehran meeting.
Previous Doha meetings have struggled with consensus on engaging the Taliban and appointing a UN special representative to address Afghanistan’s political crisis. However, there is cautious optimism for more agreement in the upcoming round. The Taliban has signaled its readiness to participate in the third Doha summit, emphasizing that contentious issues will not dominate the agenda.
