MOSCOW (INTERFAX.-RU): Negotiations with the regime in Afghanistan, except for contacts through the Russian embassy in this country, are not planned yet, said the press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov.
During a conversation with journalists on Wedne-sday, Peskov was reminded that a government had been formed in Afghanistan earlier . In this regard, Peskov was asked in what format it is planned to conduct negotiations with the Taliban and who will conduct this dialogue: the military or diplomats.
“Contacts through our embassy are carried out in Kabul. Those contacts that are necessary to ensure the safety of our diplomats on other technical issues. steps that this new government will take, “Peskov said.
He was asked if Russia sees a threat to its security from the Taliban. “A threat can potentially emanate from Afghanistan. We have talked about this many times. This is drug trafficking and the infiltration of terrorist groups there,” Pe-skov said. It was clarified with him what the issue of recognition of the new government of Afghanistan depends on and what will influence the Russian position in resolving this issue.
“I would not like to formulate concretely here. This is probably not necessary. We will closely monitor how the situation will develop,” Peskov said.
TASS adds: European Council President Charles Michel discussed the situation in Afghanistan with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Michel said in his Twitter Wednesday.
“Discussed with Presi-dent [of Russia] the recent developments in #Afgha-nistan and impact on broader region,” he said. “The E-U and Russia share an inte-rest in regional stability.”
Michel noted that the EU considers “preventing a humanitarian disaster, combating terrorism and drug trafficking, and guaranteeing human rights – including those of women, girls and minorities” a priority.
The EU also said that he reiterated the “EU’s support to Ukraine’s and Georgia’s territorial integrity” and co-ndemned “Belarus’s weap-onization of irregular migr-ation against EU Member States.” During the conversation with Putin, the sides “exchanged views on prospects for the Armenia-Azerbaijan settlement,” noting that “confidence building and dialogue are needed,” Michel said.
According to Kremlin press service, “There was a thorough exchange of views on the events in Afghanistan. Both sides stressed the importance of maintaining civil peace in the country and preventing violence, as well as establishing a real inter-Afghan dialogue to ensure the integrity of the Afghan state, taking into account the interests of all groups of the population,” according to the statement. Putin and Michel expressed “readiness to cooperate in order to stabilize the situation and prevent the risks of the spread of terrorism, extremism, and drug-related crime.”
https://thefrontierpost.com/no-plan-of-negotiations-with-taliban-regime-russia/
