Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister in Afghanistan's interim government led by the Taliban (banned in Russia), held a meeting with Ruslan Edelgeriev, the Russian President's Special Representative for Climate Affairs in Moscow. The Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, announced this development on social media.
During the meeting, Muttaqi discussed strengthening political and economic ties between Afghanistan and Russia and emphasized the importance of practical steps in trade and other areas. The Taliban foreign ministry spokesman noted that both sides expressed satisfaction with the meeting and highlighted their cooperation in climate change, education, trade, agriculture, industry, and sports.
Muttaqi also outlined the achievements of the new Afghan authorities in fighting terrorism, addressing illegal drug cultivation, providing treatment for drug addicts, and enhancing border security.
Muttaqi will take part in the Moscow format meeting on Afghanistan to be held on September 29 in Kazan, Russian President's Special Representative for Afghanistan and Director of the Foreign Ministry's Second Asia Department Zamir Kabulov told TASS on Monday. As Kabulov noted, the format of the expanded "troika" on Afghanistan with the participation of the United States is actually not working now. "It has been replaced by the four - Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran," he added.
On Monday evening, an Afghan delegation led by Muttaqi arrived in Moscow, and he is expected to stay in the Russian capital for two days before heading to Kazan.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Alex Zarubi/Unsplash
Based on materials from TASS