Russia is planning to host a meeting on the Afghan peace process next week, i.e, on March 18 in Moscow, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed.

Invitations were sent to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, chair of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation. 

According to TOLO News, council spokesperson Fraidoon Khwazoon said the council was still determining whether to participate in the conference or not. He added, “Russia has an important role in the Afghan peace process.”

The Taliban and representatives of China, Pakistan, and the US have also been invited. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said negotiations will focus on “ways to help advance inter-Afghan talks in Doha, reduce the level of violence and end the armed conflict in Afghanistan and help it develop as an independent, peaceful and self-sufficient state that would be free from terrorism and drug trafficking.”

The United States, which recently reportedly sent a proposed peace plan to Kabul for review, has not commented specifically on the Russia conference. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in an undated letter acquired and published by TOLOnews over the weekend, provided a glimpse into present U.S. thinking on the subject of Afghanistan. In essence, while Washington decides whether to withdraw its forces by May 1 or not, the United States would like to see signs of life in the Afghan peace process. 

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