The Afghan government has confirmed its participation in two peace conferences backed separately by the U.S. and Russia, the country's national security council said on Saturday.

The Russian-backed conference is scheduled for March 18, while the U.S.-sponsored one will take place in Turkey next month, officials said.

The announcement came ahead of a May 1 deadline for the complete withdrawal of U.S.-led foreign troops from Afghanistan as negotiated by former American President Donald Trump's administration in a controversial deal signed with the Taliban in February last year.