Russia
Vladimir Putin urges unity to address Afghan challenges
"It is necessary to unite to effectively resist terrorism, drug-trafficking, organised crime ... These are common threats. And since they are common, we can only effectively resist them together," Putin said at the session on Friday. The President called the US mission in Afghanistan catastrophic, considering the resources and time spent in the region.
Russia to continue establishing normal ties with Taliban
"Our embassy is continuing to actively operate in Kabul," said Kabulov. "We need to maintain normal relations with any Afghan government," he said, adding that while Russia is still concerned about the developing military and political situation in the region, nothing should be imposed on the Afghan people and the existing cultural and religious values must be respected, the Xinhua news agency reported.
Russia sees over 150 man-portable US missiles with Afghan militants as major terror threat
Russia's Federal Service of Military and Technical Co-operation Director Dimitry Shugaev told journalists in Moscow on Wednesday that "there are more than 150 missiles left behind by the US forces in Afghanistan. We do not know who is in control of these missiles. They could be in the hands of the Taliban or any other militant group who can use them in any part of the world including Europe, America or India."
Russia relies on its Central Asian military bases to block terror influx from Afghanistan
The recent military drills that took place on the Afghan border with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan had Russian forces from these bases—sending a clear signal to the Taliban not to invade or cause problems in the region. Among its bases, Russia maintains its largest presence in Tajikistan where it has deployed its 201 motorised division. In Tajikistan, the division operates from Dushanbe, and Bokhtar.
India returns to the Afghan cockpit after Modi-Putin talks
Several points of convergence emerged in the dialogue. Russia has been engaging with the Taliban, which overran Kabul on August 15, for a long time. But the two countries decided they will coordinate their position regarding recognition of the new Emirate of Taliban, which would come only if there is a marked change in the behaviour of the Islamist group dominated by ethnic Pashtuns.
Russia-China relations: The evolving scenario
In an article in Russian daily 'Nezavisimaya Gazeta', Vladimir Skosyrev mentions that the situation is much more complicated as far as Russia-China relations are concerned in the context of preventing the possible infiltration of militants into the former Soviet republics of central Asia.
Russia may sign new contract with Turkey on S-400 missile supply
"Consultations are continuing. I believe they are already at their final stage," Rosoboronexport Director General Alexander Mikheev said at the International Military-Technical Forum "Army-2021", without disclosing details of the possible contract, Xinhua news agency reported. Russia and Turkey signed their first deal on the S-400 systems in 2017 and Turkey received the first shipment in July 2019.
Taliban asks Russia to convey political signal to resistance in Panjshir Valley
A representative of the Taliban political office paid a visit to the Russian embassy in Kabul on Saturday, asking the Russian diplomats to inform the leaders of the remaining resistance centre in Panjshir that the movement looks to dialogue and seeks a peaceful solution, Moscow's Ambassador to Afghanistan Dmitry Zhirnov said on the YouTube channel Solovyev Live, TASS News Agency reported.
US imposes new sanctions against Russia over Navalny, Nord Stream 2
The Department of the Treasury said in a statement on Friday that it designated nine Russian individuals and two Russian entities "involved in Navalny's poisoning or Russia's chemical weapons program", reports Xinhua news agency. Many designated are members of Russia's Federal Security Service.
Russia wants India in expanded troika talks on Afghanistan
"We are interested in Iranians also getting involved, and then other countries as well, in particular, India," Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told journalists on Friday in the Rostov region, Tass reported. "Of course, international mediators can play a more significant role here than in other conflict situations. Our efforts of the so-called Troika - Russia, the US, China - and within the framework of the expanded Troika engaging Pakistan are directed precisely at this", Lavrov said.
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