A Russian Foreign Ministry official has said that the Taliban is a potent armed political power, and added that the United State has no clear strategy on Afghanistan.
Zamir Kabulov, Russian Foreign Ministry's director of the Second Asian Department said, "Whether we accept it or not, the Taliban is a potent political armed force, but the question, if the group has the same power it had 15 years ago, should be asked from the U.S. There is an independent government in Afghanistan, because of this, foreign countries are responsible for the events that took place in the country in the past fifteen years. The current situation is the result of their wrong policies, but we can still resolve these problems."
He said that Russia completely agrees with the general perception that the U S has no clear strategy in Afghanistan and it only wants to maintain a military and political presence in the war-hit nation to control China, reports the Khaama Press.
"I agree with the view that America has no Afghanistan strategy. They have a single purpose, [which is] to exist in Afghanistan in terms of military and political. Afghanistan is geopolitically located in an important place to control China through Central Asia, Iran, Russia, and Pakistan. This situation naturally disturbs us".
Kabulov also confirmed that Russia has been in contact with the Taliban, saying these contacts are aimed to ensure the security of Russian nationals in Afghanistan and Russia's political representatives in the country.