Some participants of the Moscow talks, which were held on February 5 and 6 between Afghan politicians and Taliban representatives, said they found that Taliban had a “strong will” for ending the war and that the issue of establishing an interim government in Afghanistan was not a topic of discussion in the meeting.

One participant of the meeting said the issue of establishing an interim government was raised only by former Balkh governor Atta Mohammad Noor.

“Afghan women should oversee (the peace process) to ensure Taliban has received Afghan women and people’s message and the message is that we will not go back,” said MP Fawzia Kofi who addressed reporters in Kabul on Saturday. 

Political affairs analyst Nazar Mohammad Mutmaen, who attended the talks, said another meeting similar to Moscow talks will be held between Afghan politicians and Taliban representatives in the near future. However, he did not give further details about whereabouts of the meeting.

“The issue of interim government was not discussed. It was a personal opinion of some people and it was not discussed (in Moscow talks),” said Mutmaen. 

Sources within Taliban said China and Uzbekistan have shown interest to host the next round of peace talks, but added that the group is trying to hold the talks in Kabul.

Moscow talks were held between the Afghan politicians and Taliban in Moscow for two days in absence of the Afghan government. 

The participants at the end of the talks issued a declaration of nine articles that show they agreed on those nine key issues. They also agreed to hold the next rounds of the talks in the near future. 

The Afghan government reacting to the declaration said it does not have executive result adding that the talks were ‘political and scientific discussion’ rather than talks on the Afghan peace.

Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs also criticized travels of Taliban representatives to Moscow and said some of the Taliban members are included in the UN blacklist and they do not have the permission of traveling. 

Another meeting between the Taliban and US officials is supposed be held in Doha on the Afghan peace within the next two weeks.