Russia on Wednesday hosted talks on Afghanistan involving the Taliban and senior representatives from neighboring international locations, a spherical of diplomacy that underscores Moscow’s clout.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov opened the talks and pressured that “to achieve a stable peace in Afghanistan it is necessary to form a government completely inclusive of the interests of not only all ethnic groups but all political forces in the country”.
Russia had labored for years to determine contact with the Taliban, although it designated the group a terrorist group in 2003 and by no means listed it. Any contact with such teams is punishable beneath Russian regulation, however the international ministry mentioned in response to questions concerning the obvious contradiction that its exchanges with the Taliban are essential to assist stabilize Afghanistan.
Unlike many different international locations, Russia has not vacated its embassy in Kabul and its ambassador has maintained common contact with the Taliban after it captured the Afghan capital in August.
Lavrov appreciated the efforts of the Taliban to stabilize the military-political state of affairs within the nation and make sure the operation of state buildings.
“We are satisfied with the level of practical dialogue with the Afghan authorities, which allows to effectively ensure the safety of Russian citizens in Afghanistan and the uninterrupted operation of our embassy in Kabul,” Lavrov mentioned in his opening speech on the convention. “
At the identical time, he pressured the significance of respecting human rights and pursuing well-balanced social insurance policies, saying he mentioned these points with the Taliban delegation earlier than the talks.
“The meeting is very important for the stability of the entire region,” mentioned Abdul Salam Hanafi, deputy prime minister within the Taliban’s interim authorities, who took half in Wednesday’s talks.
Lavrov mentioned Russia would quickly ship a consignment of humanitarian support to Afghanistan and urged the worldwide group to shortly mobilize assets to forestall a humanitarian disaster within the nation.
The Soviet Union fought a 10-year warfare in Afghanistan that ended with the withdrawal of its troops in 1989. In latest years, Moscow has made a powerful comeback as an influential energy dealer in worldwide negotiations on Afghanistan, internet hosting Taliban representatives and members of different factions. For bilateral and multilateral conferences.
Along with the Taliban and different Afghan factions, the so-called Moscow draft talks, held since 2017, additionally embrace representatives from China, Pakistan, Iran, India and former Soviet international locations in Central Asia.
Wednesday’s talks got here forward of a gathering of high diplomats from Russia, China and Pakistan earlier this week. The US, which can also be a part of that “expanded troika” format, didn’t attend the assembly.
Last week, President Vladimir Putin mentioned there must be no rush to formally acknowledge the Taliban as Afghanistan’s new rulers, however pressured the necessity to interact in dialogue with them.
At the identical time, Putin and different Russian officers emphasised the threats posed by the Islamic State group and different militants primarily based in northern Afghanistan, saying drug trafficking from Afghanistan would proceed to current a problem.
“Many terrorist groups, especially Islamic State and al-Qaeda, are trying to take advantage of the instability in the country with increasing bloody attacks,” Lavrov mentioned. “There is a real threat of terrorism and drug spread to neighboring countries under the guise of migration.”
Russia’s high diplomat urged the Taliban “not to allow the territory of Afghanistan to be used against the interests of any third countries, primarily its neighbours, our friends and allies in Central Asia.”
Russia has vowed to supply army help to its ex-Soviet allies in Central Asia to assist counter threats, and has performed a sequence of joint workout routines in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan which is neighboring Afghanistan.
Another intensive army train in Tajikistan, involving 5,000 troopers, over 700 army autos and fighter jets, has begun this week.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
