Putin said he hopes the Taliban will behave in a “civilized” manner in Afghanistan to allow the world to maintain diplomatic ties with Kabul.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also said, “Russia is not interested in the disintegration of Afghanistan. If this happens, then there will be no one to talk to.” He was speaking at the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia’s far eastern city of Vladivostok.
“The sooner the Taliban will enter the family of civilized people, so to speak, the easier it will be to contact, communicate, and somehow influence and ask questions,” he added.
Putin said that the withdrawal of US-led forces from Afghanistan completed last month had ended in “catastrophe” and “they spent $1.5 trillion on this whole campaign and what is the result? There isn’t any.”
After the takeover of the Taliban, Russia’s ambassador in Kabul met with representatives of the Taliban several days stating that Moscow will maintain its embassy in the country.
Russia has warned about extremist groups using the political turmoil to enter neighboring countries as refugees.
Afghanistan shares a border with three ex-Soviet states in Central Asia where Russia holds military bases.
Interestingly, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that the Taliban view Russia as an important partner in the region and will maintain good relations with Moscow.
Taliban Says China is Their Most Important Partner
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated in an interview that China is their most important partner, ready to invest and he said that Afghanistan looks to Beijing to rebuild Afghanistan and utilize its rich copper deposits as the war-torn country suffers extensive hunger and poverty all over and fears an economic crash.
He also said that the Taliban supports China’s One Belt, One Road enterprise that endeavors to link China with Africa, Asia, and Europe through an enormous network of ports, railways, roads, and industrial parks.
“China is our most important partner and represents a fundamental and extraordinary opportunity for us because it is ready to invest and rebuild our country,” Geo News cited Mujahid as saying in an interview to an Italian newspaper on Thursday.
There are “rich copper mines in the country, which, thanks to the Chinese, can be put back into operation and modernized. In addition, China is our pass to markets all over the world,” said Zabihullah Mujahid.
China has been endorsing the Taliban expressing the hope that this time, they will follow moderate and prudent domestic and foreign policies, combat all forms of terrorist forces, live in harmony with other countries, and live up to the aspiration of its own people and the international community.
Stating that China respects Afghanistan’s sovereignty and will not interfere and follow the friendship with “entire Afghan people”, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday that, “facts show that in realizing economic development we need an open inclusive political structure, implementation of moderate foreign and domestic policies and clean break from terrorist groups in all forms”.
The Taliban captured Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, on August 15 amid the departure of American troops from the country, the last on August 31, bringing an end to 20 years of war amid fears of an economic collapse and widespread hunger.
Earlier this week, United Nations chief Antonio Guterres warned of a looming “humanitarian catastrophe” in Afghanistan and urged countries to provide emergency funding as severe drought and war have forced thousands of families to flee their homes.
Fearing an economic collapse and widespread hunger, the Taliban have indicated a formal government structure was in the making and launches on transits to work with other nations to rebuild Afghanistan.