Russia considers Washington's statement on reducing US aid to Afghanistan as a tool of pressure, Special Presidential Representative for Afghanistan, head of the Second Department of Asia Zamir Kabulov told RIA Novosti.
"This is a tool of pressure on both sides: I mean Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, whom Pompeo failed to reconcile. They, apparently, did not accept the offers that were made to them, if this happened, well, this is a gesture of irritation", the Russian diplomat said, in particular.
At the same time, Kabulov called the US decision to continue withdrawing troops from Afghanistan correct, since their presence there does not play a stabilizing role.
The State Department announced a reduction in financial assistance to Afghanistan by 1 billion dollars after the failure of negotiations on the creation of an "inclusive government".
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Alexander Scherbak / TASS