Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian National Security Council, stated that during his visit to Kabul he engaged in discussions with officials of the Islamic Emirate regarding broad-based cooperation with Afghanistan across all sectors.
Upon his return to Russia, Shoigu remarked that the United States should take responsibility for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Shoigu said: “We discussed further cooperation in all areas, including the economy, with a detailed focus on transport. We covered all aspects of trade, as well as a major energy package. There are promising and expansive prospects in these areas. However, the issue of the United States continues to loom large, with its ongoing plundering of resources. This involves the return of assets and funds.”
The Russian delegation, during a meeting with the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs last night, emphasized the importance of Afghanistan’s security for the stability of the region.
The delegation was comprised of Sergei Shoigu, Alexei Overchuk, the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia; Alexander Venediktov, Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council; and Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, who held meetings with various Afghan officials.
After discussions with the Deputy Prime Ministers and the acting Minister of Defense, the delegation also met with the acting Minister of Interior. They said that the process of removing the Islamic Emirate’s name from Russia’s blacklist is nearing completion.
The acting Minister of Interior described the visit of the high-level Russian delegation as a positive step in strengthening bilateral relations.
Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, said: “In this meeting, the two sides held comprehensive discussions on political, security, and economic issues. Mr. Shoigu pledged that the process of removing the Islamic Emirate’s name, previously referred to as the Taliban Movement, from the Russian blacklist is in its final stages.”
Zalmai Afghanyar, a political analyst, remarked: “The visit of the Russian delegation to Afghanistan, their discussions on political and economic issues, and the announcement to remove the current Afghan government’s name from the list of terrorist organizations are all positive developments.”
In separate meetings with officials of the Islamic Emirate, Shoigu also expressed Russia’s desire for Afghanistan to regain its position as an observer member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
It remains to be seen how beneficial this visit by the Russian delegation will be for the Islamic Emirate.