The Taliban was welcomed in Moscow today during talks on Afghanistan as Russia seeks to exert influence over the new regime.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov opened the talks and emphasised that 'forming a really inclusive government fully reflecting the interests of not only all ethnic groups but all political forces of the country' is necessary to achieve a stable peace in Afghanistan.
Russia had worked for years to establish contacts with the Taliban, even though it designated the group a terror organisation in 2003 and never took it off the list.
The Taliban was welcomed in Moscow today during talks on Afghanistan as Russia seeks to exert influence over the new regime
Any contact with such groups is punishable under Russian law, but the Foreign Ministry has responded to questions about the apparent contradiction by saying ts exchanges with the Taliban are essential for helping stabilise Afghanistan.
Unlike many other countries, Russia hasn't evacuated its embassy in Kabul and its ambassador has maintained regular contacts with the Taliban since they took over the Afghan capital of Kabul in August.
Lavrov commended the Taliban for their efforts to stabilise the military-political situation in the country and ensure the operation of state structures.
'We are satisfied with the level of practical interaction with Afghan authorities, which allows to effectively ensure the security of Russian citizens in Afghanistan and the unimpeded operation of our embassy in Kabul,' Lavrov said in his opening speech.
Russia had worked for years to establish contacts with the Taliban, even though it designated the group a terror organisation
At the same time, he emphasised the importance of respecting human rights and pursuing balanced social policies, adding that he discussed those issues with the Taliban delegation before the talks.
Lavrov said Russia would soon dispatch a shipment of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
Zamir Kabulov, the Kremlin envoy on Afghanistan who also attended the talks, said the international recognition of the Taliban will hinge on the inclusiveness of their government and their human rights record.
'We expect the Taliban to meet ... the request of the international community about inclusivity and basic human rights, which include broadly all kinds of human rights, and they confirmed that they are working on that, the process of improvement of governance, the process of improving the human rights situation,' Kabulov told reporters.
Deputy prime minister of the Taliban's interim government Abdul Salam Hanafi (left) speaks with acting minister of information of culture Khairullah Khairkhwa
Abdul Salam Hanafi, a deputy prime
