Hoped for Anti-Taliban Democratic Forces’ Participation in Tashkent Summit, Says NRF
The National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF) indirectly criticized Uzbekistan for excluding “democratic forces” opposing the Taliban from the Tashkent summit.
NRF in a statement on Monday stressed that in the absence of a legitimate government, the participation of the anti-Taliban forces was essential for the summit.
Ali Maisam Nazary, head of foreign relations of the NRF, tweeted that Afghanistan enjoyed deep ties with Uzbekistan. He said that the two nations’ relations "are rooted in our common history and civilization”.
The Tashkent summit on Afghanistan started on Monday and will continue for two days. Representatives of 20 countries and international organizations have participated in the summit.
On Saturday, a Taliban delegation led by Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting foreign minister of the group, left for Uzbekistan to participate in the Tashkent Summit.
On July 24, the Taliban delegation attended a banquet hosted by the Deputy National Security Council of Uzbekistan. The Tashkent summit has been held close on the heels of the first anniversary of the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban.
It has been almost a year since the Taliban entered Kabul in August 15, 2021, but the group’s government has not been recognized by any country as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.
The Taliban delegation will lobby for more support from the participating countries of the summit. On the other hand, Central Asian countries are expected to share their national security concerns emanating from Afghanistan with the Taliban officials.
