The Taliban (banned in Russia) are not planning to attack the Afghan-Tajik border, Mohammad Sohail Shaheen, an official spokesman for the group, told TASS on Thursday.
"Of course, we will not attack the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. We assure the Russian side that our policy is not to attack," he said.
The delegation reiterated in Moscow that it does not seek to take over Afghanistan militarily.
"Taking over Afghanistan militarily is not our policy. Our position is to find a political solution to the Afghan issues that are being discussed in Doha," Shaheen said. - "We reiterated our commitment to a political solution here in Moscow".
He noted that the Taliban "could have easily captured provincial cities," but instead voluntarily chose to remain outside them.
A delegation from the Qatari Taliban political office is in Moscow. The last time the Taliban visited Moscow was in March to attend a meeting of the expanded "troika" (Russia, US, China, and Pakistan) for a settlement in Afghanistan.
The military and political situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated against the background of the nearly completed withdrawal of troops of the Western coalition headed by the United States. The new commander of the Armed Forces of Afghanistan, General Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai, recently appointed by President Ashraf Ghani, said that the priority for the army was to protect major cities, border crossings and highways from the Taliban.
Situation on the border with Tajikistan
On Monday, the press center of the border guards of Tajikistan's State Committee for National Security reported that more than a thousand Afghan soldiers had retreated into the republic after fighting with Taliban supporters. Over the past two weeks, there have already been several cases of Afghan soldiers being forced into Tajik territory.
Earlier, CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas said that the situation in the northern regions of Afghanistan was worsening and was of serious concern for the organization. It is necessary to help Tajikistan secure its southern border, he said. On July 1, the Council of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly adopted a statement of concern over the situation in Afghanistan and called on all political forces of the country to promote the peace process.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials from TASS