The foreign ministers of the powerful G7 nations are scheduled to meet next week to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. Importantly, they have planned to invite Russia, China and other important nations as well.

In an interview, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told Japanese TV channel NHK: "To discuss the situation in Afghanistan, the G7 will hold talks next week at the level of foreign ministers. Representatives from Russia, China and other [countries] will also have to attend it".

The meet is likely to take place on September 8.

Last month, the G7 heads had met to discuss the evacuation deadline of August 31 urged by the UK–the current head of the grouping.

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US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who is leading the initiative on the G7 foreign ministers' meeting has already indicated that he would involve other Afghan stakeholders besides the G7.

Ostensibly, the two powers are being invited to the meeting as they are perceived to be close to the Taliban. 

The militant group took over the country in a lightning offensive, much to the surprise of the Western nations. Noises emanating from Taliban-held Kabul suggest that the group is close to Russia and China, whose embassies were functional even as the other countries had shuttered theirs. Both the nations had also invited Taliban representatives to their capitals for talks in the months before the group took over the country.

Despite conducive relations with the Taliban, Russia still considers it to be a terror organisation and keeps it outlawed in Russia. China, on the other hand, has warmed up to the Taliban for ensuring that certain anti-Beijing groups are kept under control.