The Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Alexander Mantytskiy briefed the Afghan authorities regarding the reports surrounding Moscow’s attempts to establish a communication channel with Taliban in fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group affiliates in Afghanistan.
Mr. Mantytskiy clarified Moscow’s stance regarding the reports, which emerged from Russia, during a meeting with Deputy Afghan Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai.
Insisting on mis-interpretation of the statements by the authorities in Moscow, Mr. Mantytskiy, said “What was meant was that the Russia and Taliban’s interest only matches when it comes to combating Daesh (ISIS), and by Russia’s contact channels with Taliban Group it meant only to help in finding solution for the dispute between Taliban Group and Afghanistan.”
“The Russian Ambassador emphasized that his country has always supported Afghanistan and desires an independent, stable, having national sovereignty, and empty from terrorism and narcotics Afghanistan,” according to a statement by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan.
The statement further added that both sides also discussed and exchanged opinion regarding significant issues of the bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries, including combating terrorism and narcotics, and the political consulting meeting between the two Foreign Ministries of both countries which is due to be held in the near future in Moscow.
This comes as the Russian diplomat Zamir Kabulov quoted by Interfax news agency said last week that Moscow and Taliban interests in fight against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Afghanistan coincide, adding that “We have communication channels opened for sharing information.”