The Russian Federation once again reiterated its conditions for recognizing of the current Afghan government—which includes the formation of an inclusive government and ensuring human rights in the country.
The Islamic Emirate insists it has fulfilled all conditions for recognition. The call for the formation of an inclusive government and the upholding of human rights in Afghanistan was made by the Russian special envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, while speaking to Moscow daily RBK.
“The global community has a list of demands. First of all, ethnopolitical inclusivity of the [Taliban] government. There are representatives of other ethnicities in the government, but all of them are members of the Taliban. Second, we expect the Taliban to respect basic human rights. To start with, we’re talking about women’s right to work as well as other civil rights,” Kabulov told RBK.
The Russian envoy also downplayed the UN’s reports about the humanitarian situation, believing the real situation is even worse in Afghanistan.
“The conditions to officially recognize new Afghan authorities will be ripe after significant progress is made on these issues,” he said.
The Russian envoy urged the Islamic Emirate to create “normal conditions” for the citizens in order to remain in power.
But the Islamic Emirate said it has fulfilled all conditions for recognition. “Currently, the government that is active now includes around 500,000 employees of the former administration, which represents the whole country,” said Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate.
“They (Russia) want those who were in the previous governments, the nation is not accepting them … But the Taliban says they have people from across Afghanistan and their government is inclusive,” said Khalilullah, a political analyst.
It has been around five months since the Islamic Emirate announced its cabinet, but no country has thus far recognized the ruling Afghan government.
Meanwhile, Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar left Kabul for Moscow at the invitation of Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov for a three-day visit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) announced.
The trip’s aim is to expand bilateral relations and strengthen regional and international support for Afghan peace and to increase cooperation in the joint fight against terrorism and organized crime in the region, the MoFA said in a statement. Atmar plans to meet Lavrov and a number of high-ranking Russian government officials, it said.
His trip comes five days after MoFA reacted to recent remarks by Russian envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, who said he favors an inclusive and transitional coalition government in Afghanistan and that the Taliban has not violated their deal with the United States.
MoFA said that some remarks by Mr. Kabulov were “not based on realities in Afghanistan” and in some ways were contrary to official statements by the Russian Federation, which Kabul sees as a “friend.”
The ministry said that the unjustifiable exaggerations of “a forbidden group in Russia” is in contravention of Russia’s willingness to fight against the threat of terrorism and extremism in the region and to achieve lasting peace based on the demand of Afghans. The ministry added that such remarks do not match the two countries’ mutual interests.
The ministry said that the Afghan government is a UN member and it enjoys diplomatic relations with all countries, including Russia, and is fulfilling all its international commitments as a responsible government.
Contrary to Mr. Kabulov’s claims, the Afghan government has never delayed the peace talks, but it was the Taliban who left the negotiating table, said the ministry.
