Ten countries agreed to call on the United Nations to hold a conference to develop Afghanistan.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MOSCOW — Afghanistan’s new ruler the Taliban won the support of 10 regional powers at talks in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday (20/10). The event was the brainchild for a United Nations (UN) donor conference to help prevent an economic collapse and humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan.
Russia, China, Pakistan, India, Iran and the former Soviet Union countries in Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan joined the Taliban. They called on the United Nations to convene such a conference as soon as possible to help rebuild Afghanistan Aljazirah.
The countries said the meeting should take place with the understanding that the main burden should be borne by forces whose military contingents have been present in Afghanistan for the past 20 years. The United States (US) and allies invaded Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks and the sudden withdrawal paved the way for the Taliban to retake control of the country in August.
Washington chose not to attend the talks for technical reasons. But US President Joe Biden’s administration has said it may join future meetings.
Russia has led the call for international assistance. Since returning to power, the Taliban say they have moved as quickly as possible to open up government and guarantee women’s rights, as well as not represent a threat to other countries. “Isolating Afghanistan is not in anyone’s interest,” said Abdul Salam Hanafi, the deputy prime minister who led the Taliban delegation.
Hanafi said the meeting was very important for the stability of the entire region. While governments around the world, including Russia, have refused to give official recognition to the Taliban government, the communique acknowledged the new reality of the Taliban’s rise to power.
Russia has asked the Taliban to form a government that includes all ethnic groups and political forces in Afghanistan. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the Kremlin Palace acknowledged the Taliban’s efforts to try and stabilize the situation in Afghanistan since taking power in mid-August.
“The new government is in power now. We note their efforts to stabilize the military and political situation and regulate the work of the state apparatus,” Lavrov told the meeting.
Lavrov urged the group to now form a government that reflects the interests of not only all ethnic groups but all political forces in Afghanistan. Such efforts are to achieve a stable peace in the country.
The talks marked one of the most significant international gatherings of the Taliban since taking control of Afghanistan and underscored Moscow’s influence. Lavrov said Moscow regretted the US’s absence at the conference.
The talks were carried out after previously Russia, China and Pakistan were willing to provide assistance to Afghanistan. Lavrov said that Russia would immediately send humanitarian aid and demanded that the international community mobilize resources to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.
Adopting a cautious approach, Moscow also made clear that it was not yet ready to recognize the Taliban government. Lavrov said the Kremlin recognized the Taliban’s rule while waiting for the group to fulfill promises made when it took power, including the political and ethnic inclusivity of the new government.
“Official recognition of the Taliban is not being discussed at this time. Like most other influential countries in the region, we are in touch with them. We encourage them to keep the promises they made when they were in power,” Lavrov said.
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