Russia will not unilaterally recognize the authority of the Taliban (Taliban movement*) in Afghanistan, but their de facto recognition is gradually taking place in the world, the Special Representative of the Russian President for Afghanistan, Director of the Second Asian Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Zamir Kabulov told RIA Novosti.
"I cannot decide for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin. When we feel that some necessary critical qualitative mass of steps have been taken by the Taliban, we will naturally raise such a question before the UN Security Council. In that sense, the president said that we are not going to do it unilaterally. We will discuss, and if the members of the Security Council are constructive, this issue will be resolved. We're in favor of solving it together. So far there are no other ideas," Kabulov said.
However, he noted that in his view, "political recognition would be more of a symbolic political act."
"De facto recognition, as you see, is already, in fact, happening: the Taliban delegation participated in a representative meeting of the Moscow format here in our country, had the opportunity to communicate directly with ten countries in the region. There was an extraordinary session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Islamabad, where the Taliban were also invited and had the opportunity to speak and state their point of view. "At the same time, it was good that the entire Islamic world expressed its point of view on the internal policy of the Taliban in its religious part," Kabulov explained.
According to him, "the process of recognition is taking place slowly and gradually".
"We don't get hung up on recognition or non-recognition. In fact, we have a full-fledged Russian embassy. And it is not alone - seven embassies are working, and three or four more are on the way. With such individual small steps, the recognition de facto is already happening," he added.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at a large press conference about the Taliban, said that the issue of their recognition should be based on realities and the fact that the forces that wound up in Afghanistan will be oriented to represent all ethnic groups in the leadership of the country. Nevertheless, the possible penetration of extremist elements can't help but cause some anxiety and apprehension, the president added. Russia, he concluded, will seek to ensure that the decision to recognize the Taliban government is consolidated.
* The organization is under UN sanctions for terrorist activities.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Press Service of the Russian Foreign Ministry / TASS
Based on materials from RIA Novosti