Afghan Foreign Ministry criticizes meeting held with Taliban leaders in Uzbekistan

AKIPRESS.COM - Meeting with leaders of Taliban in Uzbekistan shows the official Tashkent does not want to help Kabul in the peaceful process, Afghan Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Sagbatulla Ahmadi told RIA Novosti. The meeting with the delegation of the Taliban diplomatic office led by its chief Mullah Baradar Akhund was held in the Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan on August 8.
"How the leadership of Taliban was hosted in Uzbekistan, as well as the course of the talks do not show that Uzbekistan helps or provides a forum for Afghanistan," the spokesperson said.
Afghanistan expects from Uzbekistan and other countries of the region respect of people of Afghanistan and its leadership so that they will play a leading role in the peaceful process, he emphasized.
The Afghan authorities declared about a soon start of the direct talks with Taliban. The venue of the next round of intra-Afghan dialogue will be identified in the nearest time, Ahmadi said.
In late July, the Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan said the Uzbek side is ready to host the meeting of the Afghan government and Taliban in Samarkand.