The Taliban are having consultations on the proposed draft peace plan presented by the United States and due to finalise their proposals.
According to Afghan media, former Taliban ambassador to Pakistan Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef said the Taliban and the US have been working on a plan that includes a reduction in violence, the release of Taliban prisoners and the removal of Taliban names from the UN blacklist.
He said that the recent moves by the US indicate that Washington is serious resolve Afghan conflict.
Meanwhile, Russia has also stepped up efforts to restore peace to Afghanistan and summoned a meeting in Moscow. Pakistan, China, the United States, Afghan government and the Taliban have been invited to the meeting.
Afghan reconciliation council spokesman Fraidoon Khwazoon said that President Ashraf Ghani, High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah, as well as foreign envoys and the Taliban representatives, are expected to attend the meeting in Moscow on March 18 to discuss the Afghan peace process.
The aim of the meeting is to accelerate Afghanistan’s peace talks in Doha in order to put an end to the Afghan conflict.
The Afghan government has yet to confirm whether it will participate or not. However, the Taliban are assessing the invitation.
Some analysts believe that Moscow’s invitation to Afghan politicians is aimed to put pressure on the politicians to accept the US-proposed peace plan.
