MOSCOW. Oct 20 (Interfax) - A delegation of the Taliban, banned in Russia, has arrived in Russia to attend a Moscow-format meeting on Afghanistan.
The Taliban delegation consists of about ten people, among them acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, an Interfax correspondent reported.
The Moscow-format meeting, which, apart from the Taliban delegation, will be attended by representatives of ten countries of the region, is due to start at 11 a.m. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to give a welcome speech.
The participants in the meeting are expected to discuss how the military-political situation may further unfold in Afghanistan, the formation of an inclusive government there, as well as steps to consolidate the international community's efforts to avert a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
The Taliban took power in Afghanistan in August of this year, as forces of the U.S.-led coalition were pulling out of Afghanistan following their 20-year presence there. To date, no countries have recognized the Taliban as the legitimate authorities of Afghanistan.