KABUL (SW): Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani is set to visit Moscow on Monday on invitation of his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.
Shakib Mustaghni, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) told Salam Watandar matters related to bilateral interest and the region would be discussed between Afghanistan and the Russian Federation. He said the two ministers would share views about ways and means to counter narcotics, terrorism, and extend cooperation in the fields of economics, trade and technology. The MoFA spokesman said Rabbani would raise the issue of the Taliban’s representatives taking part in a tribalteral conference hosted by Moscow a while ago.
Analysts, however, believe the policies of the new U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the region would set the tone for future Afghan-Russian ties, not this trip by Salahuddin Rabbani.
Fida Mohammad, an analyst, told Salam Watandar Kabul’s heavy reliance on Washington has harmed the strategic balance in the region which provided an opportunity to the Taliban. Lateef Nazari, another analyst, underlined the importance of this trip by pointing to the key juncture in ties between the two countries. He added the Afghan government can stop the law and order situation from getting worst by improving ties with the Russian Federation. He stressed the policies of the new U.S. administration would play key role in this regard.
ENDS
