2 days after Moscow conference, FM meets Russia ambassador

ATLATNA (Pajhwok): Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Maulvi Amir Khan Muttaqi has met Russia’s Ambassador Dmitry Zhirnov in Kabul two days after a Moscow conference, which was attended by rivals of the caretaker government.

Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), wrote on his X handle that the two sides discussed bilateral, political and economic ties between Kabul and Moscow.

He said they also discussed regional and international issues in addition to educational and cultural matters.

The ministry spokesman gave no further details of the meeting, which came two days after a conference was held in Moscow hosted by the Russian Justice Party.

Afghan figures opposed to the interim government, including Ahmad Massoud, leader of the National Resistance Front, attended the event.

After the fall of the previous government in August 2021, Russia has organised for the first time a conference in Moscow attended by politicians and officials of the previous government.

The caretaker government in Kabul was not invited to the conference but two months ago, the acting minister of foreign affairs had participated in a Moscow-format meeting.

The convening of the conference has sparked a reaction from the Kabul government.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid criticised the meeting in Moscow yesterday in an interview with TOLOnews. He said Russia should not stoke differences among Afghans.

kk/mud

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