MONITORING (SW) – The probability that the Taliban may face large-scale resistance in spring is not ruled out, Special Russian Presidential Representative for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov told TASS on Monday.
“Such a probability does exist, unfortunately,” the Russian diplomat said, replying to a question about the likelihood that disarrayed inter-ethnic protests in Afghanistan might turn into large-scale resistance to the Taliban (outlawed in Russia) after the winter was over.
“It is important for the Taliban movement and the international community right now to take utmost efforts primarily to stabilize the social and economic situation inside the country,” the envoy said.
The West unfreezing Afghan national financial assets and foreign partners’ ramped-up social and economic assistance and humanitarian aid to Afghanistan will also facilitate this process, Kabulov said.
“It is also necessary to rule out inflammatory actions both inside and outside for inciting inter-ethnic strife, which is fraught with active armed actions,” the Russian envoy stressed.
The countries participating in the extended Troika on Afghanistan (Russia, the United States, China and Pakistan) are now coordinating the date of the next round of talks planned before the end of February in Kabul, Russian Special Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan and Director of the Foreign Ministry’s Second Asia Department Zamir Kabulov said in an interview with TASS.
“Currently, we are coordinating the date of the next round of talks with our partners in the extended Troika, which will be held in Kabul by the end of February,” he said.
The diplomat pointed out that the Russian side is focusing the attention of the extended Troika on the “completion of the inter-Afghan peace process, as well as the participation of the international community in the inclusive post-conflict rehabilitation of this country.
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