KABUL - The third quadrilateral conference among Russia, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Pakistan is due to begin in five days in Tajik capital, Dushanbe.
The conference is aimed at strengthening relations, joint fight against terrorism and drug smuggling and maintenance of peace in the region, a senior official in Afghan ministry of foreign affairs said.
Meanwhile, officials said that the third phase of talks on strategic agreement between the US and Afghanistan would begin in Washington next month.

A spokesman for Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the quadrilateral session will be held on 2nd September.
Janan Mousazai, a spokesman for ministry of foreign affairs, said: "Fight against terrorism, mutual cooperation between these nations and more efforts to ensure security and stability in the region are the issues to be discussed in the conference."

"The third round of talks on strategic cooperation between Afghanistan and the United States is due to begin next month in Washington," he added.

Officials in ministry of foreign affairs insisted that if the Taliban is willing to join the forthcoming Bonn conference on Afghanistan, it should join the peace process because only one delegation will participate in the Bonn II from Afghanistan.