Employees of the Russian Consulate General in Mazar-i-Sharif, who worked in Hairatan, have been temporarily transferred to Uzbekistan for security reasons. This was announced on Monday to TASS by Zamir Kabulov, the Russian President's Special Representative for Afghanistan and Director of the Second Asia Department of the Foreign Ministry.
"In Hairatan, since it is in suspense, in order not to risk the safety of our employees, we temporarily moved them to the territory of Uzbekistan," he said.
According to the consular information portal, the reception of citizens by employees of the Consulate General was temporarily carried out in Hairatan, which is also located in Balkh Province, as well as Mazar-i-Sharif.
The Special Representative stressed that there is currently no threat to the security of Russian diplomats at the embassy in Kabul. "No, there is no such threat at the moment," he noted.
Kabulov added that the situation in Afghanistan is developing alarmingly, but this course of events was predicted by Russia.
"Alarming, but predictable. What we predicted is happening," he said in response to a related question.
Moscow format meeting
Kabulov said a new meeting of the Moscow format on an Afghan peace settlement will take place when all conditions are in place.
"Of course, when all the conditions are in place," he said when asked if a corresponding meeting was planned.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Russia did not rule out the possibility of holding a Moscow-format meeting on an Afghan peace settlement and was ready to provide such a platform for dialogue by the Afghan sides in case of a request.
The security situation in Afghanistan deteriorated significantly in April this year after US President Joe Biden announced the end of the US operation in the republic. As of 6 July, the US was more than 90% done with the withdrawal of its troops. Other NATO countries and their partners are withdrawing their contingents from the country at the same pace.
Against this background, the Taliban (banned in Russia) is increasing the pace of attack in some areas. At present several dozen districts of Afghanistan are under control of the Taliban who, according to local media, have also seized several key border crossings on the borders with Tajikistan, Iran and Pakistan. Kabul is planning a massive counteroffensive against the supporters of the movement.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Alexander Shcherbak / TASS
Based on materials from TASS