Zamir Kabulov, the Russian special envoy for Afghanistan has expressed regret over the cancellation of Qatar talks, blaming Afghan president Ashraf Ghani for meddling in the process.

However, the Afghan Presidential Palace in a statement said that preparations were underway to send a delegation composed of 250 political figures as well as civil society members to the talks.

The statement added that Qatar had prepared a list that contradicted the one proposed by the Afghan government, calling the move a “disrespect to the national will of the people of Afghanistan.”

The pre-planned talks between the Taliban and Afghan delegates were canceled after the Taliban group opposed the composition and size of the delegation proposed by the Afghan government.

The US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Peace Zalmay Khalilzad said he was disappointed with the collapse of the talks.

Arezo news website – Humayun Salimi