Russia hints at recognising Taliban government

KABUL (Pajhwok): Russia has hinted at recognising the Taliban government if the movement brings inclusivity to its administration.

Moscow would take a decision on the issue regardless of the position of the United States or any other country, a Russian diplomat said on Tuesday.

President Putin’s special envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov said in an interview: “Such prospects do exist. The conditions were described by the president (Putin) and the foreign minister (Sergey Lavrov).”

Speaking to Channel One, Kabulov explained: “An inclusive ethno-political government should be the first step towards this.”

The diplomat added: “We make no secret of this and we say so outright to our Afghan partners. As soon as this happens, there will be the basis for a serious discussion…”

At the moment, he believed, the Taliban found it hard creating a broad-based government. “(But) this psychological barrier has to be negotiated.”

The envoy commented the Taliban would have to make their government more inclusive if they wanted to stay in power. “We say so very frankly.”

PAN Monitor/mud