File photo 

We will not let Taliban take down the Afghan government, said Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday. 

He was speaking at the Kabul Process ? a multinational peace conference hosted by Afghanistan ? which began on Tuesday under the chair of the Afghan president.

Ghani explained that the purpose of the conference is to defeat terrorism and ensure peace. "Foreign fighters have increased in the last two years," he said, adding that this is the last chance for the Taliban to become part of the national mainstream. 

Ghani also assured the Taliban that he will provide them space to open up an office for conducting peace negotiations. 

The peace conference will include discussions on the talks with Taliban, as the capital reels from a wave of bombings and clashes that left more than 100 people dead and hundreds wounded in the last week.

Much of Kabul remains in lockdown ahead of the conference, with tighter than usual security including more armed checkpoints and armoured vehicles patrolling the streets, and tight restrictions on civilian traffic.

Representatives of around 25 countries, including Pakistan, India, China and the US, along with European Union, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, and the United Nations, will attend the meeting, which aims to build international support on ways to restore security in the conflict-torn country.

Pakistan, Afghanistan, China agree to promote trilateral cooperation

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"The Kabul Process is meant to reach a consensus with the region and the world for peace in Afghanistan," said Afghan presidential spokesman Shah Hussain Murtazawi, while talking to AFP.

Media reports said Pakistan will be represented by senior officials of the Foreign Ministry.