Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Afghanistan under Taliban rule faces “certain problems,” describing the decades-long conflict in the country as “a horrible situation.”
He did not elaborate on the nature of those challenges but said the Taliban were nonetheless in control of affairs in Afghanistan.
In an interview with India Today ahead of his two-day visit to New Delhi, Putin also said the Taliban had taken action against terrorist groups, including ISIS. His comments appeared to downplay concerns previously expressed by Russian officials about the Taliban’s links to Arab and Central Asian militant networks.
Putin arrived in India on Thursday to a warm welcome from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who personally greeted him at the aircraft. The visit proceeded despite US pressure on India to scale back engagement with Moscow.
During the interview in Moscow, Putin set aside warnings from senior Russian diplomats, including Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky, who had recently said terrorism in Afghanistan and the Middle East remained a serious and evolving threat. Lyubinsky noted that threats from international terrorist organizations had intensified.
Concerns have grown in the region following the recent killing of five Chinese citizens near the Tajikistan–Afghanistan border. Tajikistan said the attacks were organized from Afghan territory and called on the Taliban to stop such incidents. Chinese nationals working in Tajikistan were targeted by drones, and the Taliban say they are working with Dushanbe to identify those responsible.
Recognition of the Taliban
Putin is the first leader of a major UN Security Council member state to recognize the Taliban administration. In the interview, he defended the group’s performance on counterterrorism and drug trafficking, areas that Western governments cite as major obstacles to recognition.
Western nations have also linked recognition to improvements in human rights, particularly women’s rights and access to education.
The two Indian women journalists interviewing Putin raised concerns about the Taliban’s restrictions on women, pointing to Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s recent trip to India, during which female journalists were barred from attending his press conference. The decision sparked strong criticism among Indian media and opposition figures.
Putin said maintaining contact with the Taliban was essential in order to influence developments in Afghanistan. Referring to the controversy over the press conference, he said Muttaqi’s presence in Delhi had allowed women journalists to express their objections directly to him.
