Russia Regrets Refusal of U.S. to Participate in Meeting on Afghanistan in Moscow

Russia regrets that the United States refused to participate in the meeting on Afghanistan in Moscow on 14 April, said the Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Thursday.

“We regret Washington’s refusal to take part in the consultations,” Zakharova said during a press briefing,” the United States is an important player in the Afghan settlement, so it joining the peacekeeping efforts of the countries of the region would help to reinforce the message to the Afghan armed opposition regarding the need to stop armed resistance and to start talks.”

Moscow will host another round of talks on an ongoing war in Afghanistan on mid-April.

Russia says the main goal of the meeting is “to develop a single regional approach with regard to further promotion of the national reconciliation process” in the war-torn Afghanistan, while maintaining Kabul’s leading role on the integration of the armed opposition into peaceful life.

Zakharova added that Moscow has sent U.S. an invitation for consultations on Afghanistan, but Washington has said it will continue to work with Russia and other key regional actors for the settlement in Afghanistan but will not take part in the meeting in Moscow.

Last week, the Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman also said that Kabul have not decided yet to attend the upcoming multinational peace conference on Afghanistan in Moscow.

So far Moscow has hosted two meetings on the agenda and 12 countries including Afghanistan, Central Asian countries, China, India, Iran, Pakistan and the United States have been invited to the third meeting.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, most of the countries have already confirmed their participation.

By Fahim Noori & Hesamuddin Hesam