The Foreign Minister of Russia, Sergey Lavrov, has once again reiterated his country’s support for an inclusive government in Afghanistan.
Lavrov arrived in Tajikistan on Monday for a two-day visit.
He will meet with the foreign minister and the president of the country and will visit Russia’s 201st military base, Interfax reported.
In a meeting with his Tajikistani counterpart Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Lavrov stressed countering terrorism, illegal migration and narcotics in Afghanistan.
“There has been particular attention regarding the situation in Afghanistan. We are conducting systematic discussion… about the situation in Afghanistan,” he said.
The Tajikistan foreign minister meanwhile expressed concerns about the presence of “terrorist organizations” in the northern provinces of Afghanistan.
“I and Sergey Lavrov, Russian foreign minister, discussed the security challenges in the region, considering the newly emerged situation in Afghanistan. We have an agreed view regarding the challenges and security threats after the different terrorist groups in the northeastern provinces of Afghanistan have risen,” he said.
The Islamic Emirate denied the presence of terrorist groups in the north of Afghanistan.
“Peace and stability have been ensured in Afghanistan. No group exists that can have a piece of land to make a stronghold or an office. Thus there should be no concern about it. Also, there is no evidence for these, so the allegations and remarks which are baseless should be avoided,” said Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate.
“If the risk is not threatening them practically now, in the long term politics, they are trying to clarify for Afghanistan and other countries that their (Afghanistan)’s policies do not threaten the geography of the countries,” said Mohammad Musa Sadat, political analyst.
Lavrov on Monday claimed that the US provides strong support to Daesh and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, TASS reported.
The minister made the remarks during a visit to a Russian military base in Tajikistan, TASS said, quoting the ministry.
