Moscow does not intend to reduce the size of its diplomatic mission in the country amid the withdrawal of some embassy staff from Afghanistan by the Americans and warnings about the deteriorating situation, Zamir Kabulov, Russian President's Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of the second Asia Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, told RIA Novosti.
"Many embassies are withdrawing their employees, the American embassy is reducing its staff. We have no such plans," Kabulov said.
The US ordered some of its civil servants to leave the embassy in Kabul on April 27, on the eve of the start of the withdrawal of US contingents. The US State Department said the order applied to diplomats and other service members. The Department of State does not say how many of the officials in Kabul will be affected. At the same time, Washington recommends that citizens who wish to leave the country do so as soon as possible "in light of the continuing high level of insecurity in Afghanistan," the statement said.
The US withdrawal will begin May 1, although Washington had previously pledged to complete it by that date, according to a Doha agreement with the Taliban.
In Afghanistan, government forces are confronting the Taliban, who have gained significant territory in rural areas and have launched an offensive on major cities. National defense and security forces are conducting joint counterterrorism operations across the country. Peace talks between the Afghan government and the radical Taliban began in the capital of Qatar on September 12, 2020.
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Based on materials from RIA Novosti