- Recently, Afghan politicians and Taliban delegates have met in Moscow to revive peace talks aimed at ending the decades-long war.
- The meeting was organised by Russia to commemorate the 100th anniversary of its diplomatic ties with Afghanistan.
- During the meeting,Taliban and Russia has called for the withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition troops from Afghanistan denouncing the foreign presence in the country as a major obstacle to Afghan peace.
- The Taliban has said that Afghanistan government representatives will not participate in the intra-Afghan conference as Taliban has refused to engage with Afghan government as it considers the government illegitimate.
- This meeting in Russia come after direct peace negotiations between the United States and the Taliban appear to have slowed down over the Taliban refusal to cease hostilities until all U.S.-led international forces withdraw from Afghanistan.
- The Taliban has ruled large parts of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, before being ousted in a US-led invasion.After years of insurgency, it now controls half of the country mostly in rural areas.
Taliban says ‘occupation’ must end for Afghan peace
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