Putin to world: Prevent collapse of Afghanistan

KABUL (Pajhwok): Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged the global fraternity to prevent the collapse of Afghanistan.

Other countries should not impose their own values on Afghanistan and that the reality was that the Taliban had taken control of most of the country, he said.

At a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the Kremlin on Friday, he said: “The Taliban control almost the entire territory of the country.”

NDTV quoted the Russia leader as saying: “These are the realities and it is from these realities that we must proceed, preventing the collapse of the Afghan state.”

Both sides confirmed they focused Afghanistan during the outgoing German leader’s final visit to Russia, the TV channel added.

Putin called for effective measures to stop terrorists entering neighbouring countries from Afghanistan, including in the garb of refugees.

It was not in Russia’s interest to dwell on the result of the 20-year-old US military mission in Afghanistan, Putin remarked.

While urging allies to stand united to help the Afghans, he said Russia was interested in Afghanistan’s peace and stability.

While welcoming the Taliban takeover, Putin insisted on establishing good neighbourly relations with the new Afghan leadership.

PAN Monitor/mud