Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Russia Encouraging Taliban for Peace: Envoy

Russia Encouraging Taliban for Peace: Envoy

KABUL - Russia contacted Taliban to encourage them to join the peace process in Afghanistan, the country’s envoy to Kabul said on Thursday.
Alexander Mantytskiy told a press conference in Kabul the US and NATO had failed to ensure security in Afghanistan.
He said Russia’s contact with Taliban was aimed at encouraging them to join to peace and protect Russian citizens.
Mantytskiy said despite US and NATO presence in Afghanistan for 15 years, they failed to achieve their basic goals particularly eliminating terrorism in Afghanistan.
He said the number of terrorist groups had increased in Afghanistan compared to the past.
Two new terrorist groups, including Jandullah and Daesh or Islamic (IS), had recently appeared and production and smuggling of drugs increased than ever before, he said.
“We are concerned about Daesh but we don’t know who sponsor them, we want the Afghan intelligence to clear the issue,” Mantytskiy said.
The ambassador said in the past also they were concerned about increasing insecurity in northern provinces near borders with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. (Pajhwok)