In a significant departure from India’s stand on engaging the Taliban, the government announced it would participate at a “non-official” level. Two former senior diplomats will attend talks on the Afghanistan peace process to be held in Russia on Friday.

The talks, known as the “Moscow format” will include a “high-level” delegation from the Taliban as well as a delegation of Afghanistan’s “High Peace Council”, along with representatives of 12 countries, and will mark the first time an Indian delegation has been present at the table with the Taliban representatives based in Doha.

On Thursday, the United States said it would send representatives from its embassy in Moscow to the talks; Pakistan is also expected to send a representative.

“India supports all efforts at peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan that will preserve unity and plurality, and bring security, stability and prosperity to the country. India’s consistent policy has been that such efforts should be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, and Afghan-controlled and with participation of the Government of Afghanistan,” said MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, adding that “Our participation at the meeting will be at the non-official level.”

Sources told The Hindu that India would send two retired diplomats, Amar Sinha and TCA Raghavan as its representatives. While Mr. Sinha was Ambassador to Kabul (2013-2016), Mr. Raghavan has held senior posts in the MEA dealing with Afghanistan and Pakistan, was High Commissioner to Islamabad (2013-2015) and is currently the Director-General of the government-run Indian Council of World Affairs — a think tank based in Delhi.

The Russian government welcomed India’s decision to participate in the talks on November 9. “We highly regard Indian support in the peace process in Afghanistan and welcome Indian readiness and that of other partner countries in the Moscow format,” a Russian Embassy statement said on Thursday.

Significant shift

Asked why India’s stand had undergone a significant shift vis-à-vis the Taliban, government officials said the decision was the outcome of “close discussions with the Afghanistan government,” and it was felt necessary for India to have a “presence” there.

Analysts see the Modi government’s decision as a significant marker in the Afghan dialogue process, given that India has in the past declined to participate in the Moscow format with the Taliban unless the Afghan government participated. A Russian proposal to hold the talks on September 4 had to be cancelled after the U.S. pulled out, and the Ghani government opposed them.

“India would have preferred a direct process between the Ghani government and the Taliban, but since that is not possible, a regional process like this one is the next best option. It is to Russia’s credit that they have been able to bring everyone to the table for this round of talks,” former Ambassador to Afghanistan Rakesh Sood told The Hindu .

The Ghani government said this week it was allowing the delegation of the High Peace Council (HPC) that is designated to further the reconciliation process with the Taliban, on the understanding that the Moscow format will lead to direct talks with the Taliban. “If it does not happen..., then this will reflect the intention of the Taliban and this means they [Taliban] are not prepared for peace,” Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Sibghat Ahmadi was quoted in local reports.

Apart from the Taliban leadership based in Doha and the HPC, the Russian government has invited delegations from India, Pakistan, the U.S., China, Iran and five Central Asian Republics.

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