Afghanistan: Russia signals support for Taliban leaders, demands U.S. accountability
Sergei Shoigu, secretary of Russia’s Security Council and former defense minister, has assured Afghanistan’s Taliban leaders of Moscow’s willingness to support lasting peace in the country.
Russian news agencies reported that during discussions in Kabul with senior Taliban officials, Shoigu stressed Russia’s readiness to foster constructive political dialogue and help drive internal Afghan settlement efforts.
“Let me confirm our readiness to establish a constructive political dialogue between our countries and among the goals would be providing an impulse for the process of a settlement among Afghans.”
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Shoigu called on the United States to lead Afghanistan’s reconstruction, citing its 20-year military presence. He criticized the U.S. for withholding Afghan funds and likened its actions to those in Libya and Syria.
“We’re talking here about returning assets, funds which belong to Afghans and which, so it appears, they are not about to return, as in many other countries, like Libya and Syria. In my view, the United States should be the main entity to invest in the rebuilding of Afghanistan.”
Abdul Ghani Baradar, Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, urged Russia’s help to counter Western sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans targeting Taliban leaders. Baradar highlighted Taliban efforts to boost exports and attract foreign investment but said sanctions imposed since the group’s 2021 takeover had hindered progress.
The meeting underlined Moscow’s pivot towards the non-Western world, driven by economic pressures from U.S. and European sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Shoigu also warned of potential Russian deployment of missiles in Asia if the U.S. stations similar weapons in the region.
Baradar expressed hope for Russian support, stating, “We waiting for the Russian Federation to help us neutralize this pressure.”
