(Moscow) Taliban, Russians, Chinese and Iranians agreed on Wednesday to strengthen their security collaboration in Afghanistan, where the activity of terrorist groups and the risk of a humanitarian crisis raise fears of destabilization of the entire region.
A Taliban delegation traveled to Moscow for the first international talks in Russia since taking office in August. A meeting that testifies to their increased integration into the diplomatic game.
Besides Afghanistan, these negotiations involved ten countries, namely Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, India and the countries of Central Asia, but not the United States.
In a joint statement, the participants on Wednesday stressed their willingness to cooperate in security matters to “contribute to regional stability”, the Kabul regime being confronted with “the activity of terrorist organizations”.
“Any subsequent engagement with Afghanistan requires taking into account a new reality, the coming to power of the Taliban,” they wrote in this joint statement.
Afghanistan, bloodless after decades of war, faces the double threat of a serious humanitarian and security crisis due to the activity of jihadist groups, in particular the bloody attacks by the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-Khorasan). K).
Donor conference
The ten countries that took part in Moscow’s negotiations with the Taliban also urged the latter to put in place “moderate policies”, both internally and externally, according to their joint statement.
They urged the new rulers of Kabul to adopt “friendly policies towards Afghanistan’s neighbors, to achieve the common goals of lasting peace, security and long-term prosperity.”
The ten countries also called on the Taliban to “respect the rights of ethnic groups, women and children.”
Finally, they called on the UN to organize “an international donors’ conference” to avoid a serious humanitarian crisis.
According to their joint statement, the “burden” of the economic reconstruction and development of Afghanistan must be borne by “the actors (of the conflict) who have been in the country for the past 20 years”, a clear allusion to Western forces. , especially American.
The Taliban, subject to international sanctions, do not have the funds to run the banks and pay the salaries. Washington notably froze the reserves of the Afghan central bank.
Speaking in the Senate, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, meanwhile, admitted on Wednesday that the lack of liquidity in Afghanistan could lead to a collapse of the state.
Moscow fears
In a separate statement, Russian diplomacy reiterated its call for an “inclusive” government in Afghanistan, involving other political tendencies in power structures.
At the start of the discussions, the head of the Afghan delegation, Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi, however, judged that his government was “already inclusive”.
The Kremlin’s envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, for his part considered that the Taliban must keep their promises in terms of respect for human rights to obtain recognition from the international community.
For his part, Mr. Hanafi called on the international community to recognize Taliban power, arguing that “Afghanistan’s isolation is not in the interest of any party”.
On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that “many terrorist groups, primarily the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda, were seeking to take advantage” of the instability in this country.
According to him, there is a “real risk” that “terrorist activities” and drug trafficking “spill over” into neighboring countries, especially the former Soviet republics in Central Asia, where Moscow retains a strong influence.
“We recognize the efforts undertaken to stabilize the politico-military situation,” Lavrov stressed.
If Russia has mocked the humiliating withdrawal from Afghanistan by the United States, it fears that chaos will spread to its southern flank, a strategic region rich in raw materials. Keeping in mind the troubles that followed the withdrawal of Soviet troops in 1989.
Moscow has also stepped up military maneuvers on the Afghan border with its regional allies, also strengthening its base in Tajikistan. China has also organized exercises in the region.
Russians, Turks, Iranians, Europeans and Central Asian countries are also keen to avoid a refugee crisis. Mr. Lavrov noted in this regard Wednesday that jihadists could “hide in migratory flows”.