The conference on Afghanistan in London may focus on talks with the leaders of the Taliban movement. The Afghan government has made it clear that it may call on the international community to withdraw the names of several Taliban leaders from the black list of the UN Security Council. This was stated by the spokesman to the Afghan President, Wahid Omar, in a news briefing.

“Earlier, we suggested the topic of crossing out the names of several Taliban leaders from the UN Security Council list as a first step towards talks with the movement, but we understand this is a long procedure,” the presidential spokesman said.

The possibility of making changes in the list of the UN Security Council was raised several days after the Russian ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin voiced against holding talks with the leaders of Taliban and al-Qaeda. The Russian ambassador reminded that the talks with the leaders of militants contradict UN Security Council resolutions. “A dialogue is possible only with those who surrendered weapons and recognized the constitution of Afghanistan,” Vitaly Churkin said at a UN Security Council meeting.

According to observers, Iran and India also oppose granting amnesty to the Taliban leaders.