Moscow is not gloating, but is really worried about what is happening in Afghanistan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.
"Someone writes that we are gloating over what happened in Afghanistan. We are very much worried about our closest allies and neighbors who border Afghanistan, who border Russia without any visa regime," Lavrov said at a meeting with representatives of national-cultural associations at the United Russia public support headquarters.
The minister added that Russia really cares about the Afghan people and recalled that Afghanistan as an independent state was first recognized by the Soviet Union.
"The USSR was the first to recognize Afghanistan," stressed the foreign minister.
In early August, the Taliban* stepped up its attack on government forces in Afghanistan. On August 15, the Taliban entered the capital and took control of the presidential palace, and on August 16 they announced, that the war in Afghanistan is over, and the form of government in the country will be clarified soon. The only province not under their control is Panjshir, northeast of Kabul.
On Tuesday night, the Pentagon announced the end of US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan and the end of a 20-year mission. The airport in Kabul, from which foreigners and allies had been evacuated, had come under full Taliban control. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said the US was defeated and did not achieve its goals in Afghanistan.
* Terrorist organization banned in Russia.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from RIA Novosti