25 Oct 2019 19:07

Russia at consultations on Afghanistan stands for prompt resumption of talks between U.S., Taliban - Russian Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW. Oct 25 (Interfax) - The Russian side at consultations on the Afghan settlement has supported the prompt resumption of talks between the United States and the Taliban (banned in Russia), the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"The Russian side noted the need for the prompt resumption of talks between the U.S. and the Taliban, as well as the continuation of joint efforts of the involved countries in order to facilitate the intra-Afghan dialogue," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on its website on Friday.

On October 25, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov met with Pakistani Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed Ejaz, the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Special Envoy for Afghanistan Deng Xijun, and U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad, the statement said.

"During the conversation, the parties emphasized the importance of achieving lasting peace in Afghanistan by political and diplomatic means," the ministry said.

The settlement in Afghanistan was previously discussed in bilateral Russian-U.S. and trilateral formats involving China.