TASHKENT — Russian President Vladimir Putin stated it is necessary to build relations with the Taliban, given their control over Afghanistan.
“Afghanistan has issues; they are undeniable and well-known to all. The issue of how to establish ties with the current power is another question. Yet they must be established somehow. These are the people who control the country and its territory; they are the current authority in Afghanistan,” Putin told reporters.
“We need to proceed from reality and build relations accordingly,” he added.
These comments follow a report by the Russian news agency TASS, which said several Russian ministries have suggested to Putin that the Taliban be removed from the list of “terrorist groups,” according to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
