Russia will proceed from the realities of recognizing the power of the Taliban (banned in Russia) in Afghanistan and seek a consolidated decision of the international community on this issue, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the annual press conference on Thursday.
Answering a question about the prospects of recognizing the authority of the Taliban in Afghanistan, the Russian leader said that Moscow would be guided by realities and "the fact that the forces that ended up at the helm of Afghanistan will be tuned in to ensure that all ethnic groups are represented in the leadership of the country."
"With regard to recognition, we are working in a consolidated way with all the participants of international communication. We have our own position - we will strive to make it a consolidated decision," he stressed.
Putin assured that he would like relations between Moscow and Kabul to develop "in the best possible way." "I mean our mutual interests in stabilizing the situation in the region," he explained. - "This is not an idle question for us, because we have open borders with the Central Asian republics, the former republics of the Soviet Union, and, of course, the possible penetration of some extremist elements there cannot but cause us certain anxiety and apprehension."
The president also drew attention to the fact that a "huge amount of drugs" is still spreading from the territory of Afghanistan. "This can't help worrying us, too," he added.
The president noted that Afghanistan needs economic assistance, first of all the United States and NATO countries, which have been present in the country for 20 years, should provide it.
"What is needed now is certainly assistance to the Afghan people. And this should be done first and foremost by those countries that have caused such enormous damage, damage to the Afghan economy and to Afghan society itself. Those who have been present there for 20 years and destroyed the economy should help first of all," emphasized the head of the Russian state.
"For our part, we will do everything in our power, "Putin continued. - First of all, it is necessary to unfreeze Afghanistan's cash holdings in foreign banks, primarily in the United States, to provide humanitarian aid to the Afghan people in full, otherwise they will face starvation and dire consequences which will affect the neighboring countries.
The UN Security Council passed a resolution Wednesday authorizing the release of money from frozen financial assets to provide humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. All 15 members of the Security Council voted in favor of it at the meeting. At issue are funds belonging to "the Taliban and their affiliated entities." The document's term is one year; in December 2022 the UN Security Council will consider its extension.
The Taliban movement launched a large-scale operation to establish control over Afghanistan after the announcement by the US in the spring of this year of the decision to withdraw its armed forces from there. On August 15, the radicals entered Kabul without a fight and President Ashraf Ghani left the republic. On September 6, the Taliban declared about the control over the whole territory of Afghanistan, and on September 7, they announced the members of the provisional government, the legitimacy of which was not recognized by any country.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS