Moscow to host international meeting on Afghanistan in mid-February - Lavrov

MOSCOW, February 7. /TASS/. The international meeting on Afghanistan with participation of Russia, Pakistan, China, Iran and India will be held in Moscow in mid-February, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after talks with his Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani on Tuesday. "We have a common understanding that there is the need to boost efforts (for reconciliation in Afghanistan). In this context, we confirmed the invitation for the Afghan colleagues for another meeting on Afghanistan’s settlement due in mid-February in Moscow, with participation of representatives of Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Iran and India," Lavrov said. "We expect that all our partners will be represented at a high level, and most of them have already confirmed their participation at such a good level," he said. Russia supports Afghanistan’s bid for full-fledged membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Lavrov said. During the talks, the sides discussed "further steps on Afghanistan’s joining the practical activity of the SCO structures at this stage, in particular the regional anti-terrorist structure," he added. "This is especially important amid the current unprecedented surge in international terrorism and the attempts of the Taliban to hold dialogue on conditions that do not satisfy the Afghan colleagues and in a situation when the Islamic State is trying to find its feet in Afghanistan, including in the northern areas," Lavrov said. The sides also noted the possibility and the intention of resuming the work of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group. Read more