Lavrov: India should be engaged in international efforts supporting Afghan peace process

Lavrov said that India should “undoubtedly” be part of international efforts to find a settlement to the situation in Afghanistan as it is an “important player” in such endeavors.

He said that India is not a participant of the extended “Troika” summit on Afghanistan hosted by Moscow on March 18 aimed at helping the Afghan peace process, adding that at the same time India is part of the Moscow format uniting the neighboring states of Afghanistan, key regional countries and the USA. “Such a composition allows coordinating the assistance to national reconciliation process based on broad regional consensus. As the Afghan peace process moves forward, we are planning to resume the work of this mechanism,” Lavrov said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

This comes as senior political leaders and government officials are reviewing over 25 peace proposals, including that of the Presidential Palace, to make a unified peace road map for the upcoming conference in Turkey.

The committee that operates under the High Council for National Reconciliation is led by former vice president Mohammad Yunus Qanooni, and its members are politicians and senior government officials, including the national security adviser.

The peace proposals have been sent by political parties to the council.

The 15-member committee is also reviewing views from 30 members of the council on the peace proposals.

The Turkey conference is expected to be held this month. Sources familiar with the matter have said that two dates – April 12 and 16 – are under discussion by involved parties for the meeting that some have said will continue for 10 days.