The Islamic Emirate’s delegation led by Abdul Salam Hanafi, second deputy PM, left Kabul on Tuesday to attend the Moscow meeting on Afghanistan scheduled for Wednesday.

The delegation includes acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaqi, and acting ministers of economics and commerce and industry, as well as the Kabul mayor.

Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, China, India and the United States were reportedly all invited to the meeting, but the US announced it will not be attending. 

“The delegation has gone to Russia to make Afghanistan’s position clear," said Inaamullah Samangani.

The acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaqi in an interview with Afghanistan National Television ( RTA ) expressed hopes that the meeting would lead to recognition of the Islamic emirate by international countries.

But Reuters reported on Tuesday that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia is waiting for the Taliban to fulfill promises they made while taking power on political and ethnic inclusivity of the new government, and Lavrov said, "Official recognition of the Taliban is not under discussion for now.” He added: “Like most of other influential countries in the region, we are in contact with them. We are prodding them to fulfill the promises they made when they came to power.”

According to acting Minister Mutaqi, the meeting will benefit Afghanistan and other countries at the conference.

“Representatives of many countries will participate in the meeting, so the meeting is important for Afghanistan," Mutaqi said.

At the same time, US State Dept spokesperson Ned Price in a press conference said that the US will not participate in the meeting. “We will not participate in the Moscow talks. The Troika Plus has been an effective, a constructive forum. We look forward to engaging in that forum going forward, but we’re not in a position to take part this week," Price said.

Political and economic issues, as well as humanitarian aid, are expected to be the main topics.

Iran has also announced it will host a meeting on Afghanistan in the near future.

Special representatives to Afghanistan from Russia, China, and Pakistan met in Moscow on Tuesday and discussed common security concerns and provisions for humanitarian and economic assistance to Afghanistan, said Pakistan's special representative Mohammad Sadiq.

Reuters also reported late Tuesday that Russia, China and Pakistan have promised to provide humanitarian aid and economic support to Afghanistan.