Russia welcomes Taliban efforts to stabilise Afghanistan

Russia recognises the Taliban’s efforts to try and stabilise the situation in Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov said as he hosted the group for international talks in Moscow, “A new administration is in power now.

“We note their efforts to stabilise the military and political situation and set up work of the state apparatus.”

The talks mark one of the Taliban’s most significant international meetings since it assumed control of Afghanistan in mid-August.

Representatives from India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are also attending.

Lavrov said Moscow regretted the absence of the United States. Washington earlier said it would not join this round of talks in the Russian capital due to technical reasons but planned to do so in the future.

The Taliban delegation is headed by Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi, a senior figure in the new Afghan leadership who led talks with the European Union and the United States last week.

China and Pakistan are willing to provide aid to Afghanistan, which is now facing a looming humanitarian and economic crisis.

“Official recognition of the Taliban is not under discussion for now,” Lavrov added.

“Like most of other influential countries in the region, we are in contact with them. We are prodding them to fulfil the promises they made when they came to power.”

The Taliban came to power as the Afghan government, headed by former President Ashraf Ghani, collapsed when Washington and its allies withdrew troops after a two-decades-long intervention in the country.

Russia, which fought its own disastrous war in the country from 1979 to 1989, is trying to lead diplomatic efforts to avoid instability in the wider region that could damage its interests.

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Kamila/Al-Jazeera