Afghan peace:Russia to back renewal of US-Taliban talks

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) – Moscow will back the resumption of Afghan peace talks between the U.S. and the Taliban, a senior Russian envoy said on Thursday.

Following a meeting with his U.S. counterpart on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Russia’s Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov told reporters that Russia will assist an early return of the U.S. and Taliban to the negotiation table.

"There is no understanding on the time and the date, but there is desire to renew the talks. We will work together and assist the efforts so that it happens as soon as possible," Kabulov replied to a question inquiring whether he discussed with the U.S. envoy the date and time of the talks renewal.

On Sept. 9, U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly cancelled a meeting with the representatives of the Taliban and the Afghan government, planned in his country retreat Camp David.

Trump said that the peace talks with the Taliban are "dead", and the decision was made in retaliation for a recent attack in Afghanistan's Kabul, which killed a dozen people, including a U.S. service member.

The raging Afghan conflict is in its 18th year, with thousands of lives lost and millions forced to flee their homes. The UN repeatedly calls for urgent need to seize opportunities for peace in the region.