Troika Plus to meet on Afghanistan in Qatar next month

Russia, the US, China, and Pakistan, also known as the Troika Plus on Afghanistan, will meet next month in Qatar to discuss recent developments in the war-torn country, a Russian official said on Thursday.

Apart from discussing the Afghan peace settlement in the Qatari capital Doha on Aug. 11, Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov told a news conference in Moscow that he also expects to get to know Yue Xiao Yong, the newly appointed Chinese Envoy for Afghanistan.

"A few days ago, a new special envoy for Afghanistan was appointed in Beijing, with whom I am still not acquainted, but I expect to see him in Doha on Aug. 11. We will continue in-depth consultations both in the bilateral format and in the expanded 'troika' and are ready for broader conversations with interested international players," he said.

According to Kabulov, the primary goals of the Afghan settlement at the moment are to achieve a cease-fire, resume inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue, and form an interim coalition government with tasks to carry out constitutional reform and prepare for a general election in a short, preferably two-year, term.

The envoy added that both the Taliban and Afghan government should show equal willingness to reach a cease-fire and restart substantial talks.