Moscow is not yet planning any negotiations with the new Afghan authorities, Russia will follow very closely all the steps that will be taken in Kabul, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
"Contacts are being made through our embassy in Kabul. These are contacts that are necessary to ensure the security of our diplomats, on other technical issues. No other negotiations are planned," Peskov told reporters when asked about the format of negotiations with the Taliban.
Peskov emphasized that now Russia, like the majority of countries, will follow all steps made by the new government of Afghanistan. "We will keep a close eye on how the situation will develop," he added.
The Taliban stepped up their offensive against government forces a month ago, entered Kabul on August 15 and announced the next day that the war was over. On the night of August 31, the US military left Kabul airport, ending nearly 20 years of US military presence in Afghanistan. On September 6, the Taliban announced that Panjshir, the last of Afghanistan's 34 provinces, had come under their control with fighting. The next day, the provisional government of Afghanistan was announced. Mohammad Hasan Akhund, who served as foreign minister during the first Taliban* rule and is under UN sanctions, will head it.
* A terrorist organization banned in Russia.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from RIA Novosti