Russia invites Taliban representatives for talks on Afghanistan

Asia-Pacific, Europe, News October 14, 2021 , by IRIA No Comments

President Vladimir Putin’s special representative on Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov, said on October 7, that Russia plans to invite the representatives of the Taliban for bilateral talks on Afghanistan in Moscow on October 20, 2021.

The special representative did not specify who will represent the Taliban at the “Moscow Format”, the name of the bilateral talks given by Russia. Kabulov also did not provide further details on the subject matter that shall come under discussion in the announced talks.

According to RIA Novosti, Russia was in talks with the Taliban from last month in order to have someone sent as a delegation to Moscow sometime in the future. Moscow also hosted an international conference on Afghanistan in March 2021. During the conference Russia, U.S., China, and Pakistan released a joint statement calling on the then-warring Afghan sides to reach a peace deal and curb violence. The joint statement also called on the Taliban not to launch any offensives.

Kabulov also confirmed in a response to a question of Russian journalists, that along with representatives of the Taliban, Russia would invite representatives from China, India, Iran, and Pakistan for negotiations. The talks come as important progress following the G20 summit on Afghanistan on October 12. The G20 summit is focused to seek help for the country in order to avoid a looming threat of humanitarian crisis that may occur after the government transition process.

Amid the Taliban’s seize of power in rapid fashion and the sudden collapse of the previous Afghan government, Russia is concerned about a potential fallout in the wider region and the possibility of Islamist militants infiltrating the former Soviet republics of Central Asia, which Moscow views as its Southern Defensive buffer.

Sensing the severity of the situation, Moscow has held military exercises in Tajikistan to bolster its hardware and strengthening its military capability in the region. Talking about the situation on the Tajik-Afghan border, Kabulov said the situation remains calm and being observed closely, there is no tension at the border whatsoever.

Russian President Putin also held a phone call with Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon on October 7, in which the two leaders discussed the security situation surrounding the latest developments in Afghanistan. The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that “If the situation on Afghan-Tajik border deteriorates further in the future, Russia will take decisive measures to provide assistance to Tajikistan when necessary”.

Upon being asked that whether Russia plans to provide aid to Afghanistan, as according to the UN officials growing threat of humanitarian crisis is becoming more and more severe, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that “Russia would deliver the promised aid, but “the details were still being decided as this is being worked out”.

On October 11, Russia’s Special Representative on Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov said that “Moscow would not exclude to point out revising the UN Sanctions Regime against the Taliban. But at this stage we believe it is not expedient to rush”.

Russia has reached out to the Taliban in recent years and hosted its representatives several times, most recently in July. The Kremlin has been cautiously optimistic about the Taliban since its takeover but has been reluctant in recognizing it as a legitimate government. The group also remains formally banned in Russia.