Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, has stated that any initiative on Afghanistan is doomed to fail without the support of the Taliban and regional countries.

Zakharova called the two-day United Nations meeting on Afghanistan in Doha a "failure”.

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson added that no decision was made regarding the previously announced UN plans to establish a special envoy post and a "small contact group" for Afghanistan.

She emphasised that such an issue was placed on the agenda without proper explanation.

Zakharova added that the inclusion of extra-regional parties is only possible on the condition that the USA and NATO take primary responsibility for the current situation in Afghanistan and the country's post-war reconstruction and return the frozen assets to Kabul.

The spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the Russian delegation conducted numerous discussions with representatives from China, Iran, and Pakistan on the sidelines of the Doha meeting, emphasising Russia's solidarity in strengthening regional cooperation.

Zakharova added that the Russian side refrained from contacting Afghan representatives at this meeting as a sign of solidarity.

The second United Nations meeting on Afghanistan was held on Sunday and Monday, hosted by Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in Qatar.

Russian and Iranian special representatives refrained from meeting with five representatives of the Afghan civil society at the Doha meeting upon the request of the Taliban's Foreign Ministry.