In a first, India shares its platform with the Taliban | India News

NEW DELHI: While India will attend Friday's meeting on Afghanistan organized by Russia, the government said its participation would be limited to the "unofficial level". The government reiterated India's position that all peace efforts must be directed, detained and also controlled by Afghans.

India's presence at the Moscow meeting, even at an unofficial level, is likely to raise eyebrows since it will for the first time share a platform with the Taliban. India will be represented by retired diplomats TCA Raghavan and Amar Sinha.

Official sources said that India's decision was well thought out and in line with the "comfort level" of the Afghan government. "We are aware that the Russian Federation is organizing a meeting in Moscow on November 9th on Afghanistan," said MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar. "India supports all peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan that will preserve unity and plurality, and bring security, stability and prosperity to the country." India's constant policy has been that such efforts should be Afghan-led, Afghan-controlled, controlled and with the participation of the Afghan government, and our participation will be at an unofficial level, "he added.

According to sources, Amar Sinha, former secretary of the MEA who was also India's ambassador to Afghanistan, and TCA Raghavan, former high commissioner of India to Pakistan, will represent New Delhi during talks at Moscow.

According to the Sputnik news agency, Russia sent invitations to what is called the discussions on the "Moscow Format": Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan , Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, United States and Afghan Taliban.

At the first meeting in Moscow, India was represented at the level of the joint secretaries, but there was no Taliban at the meeting. "For the first time, a delegation of the political bureau of the Taliban movement in Doha will participate in an international meeting of this level," said a press release issued by Moscow. Although the Afghan government does not participate directly in the meeting, a delegation from the country's High Peace Council should attend. The Russian Embassy said in a reaction that she welcomed the participation of India and other countries and that she attached great importance to the support of the Russian Embassy. India to peace. process.