Russia Says It Is Working to Ease Tensions Between Islamabad and the Taliban

Russian Ambassador to Islamabad Albert Khorev, expressing concern over rising tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, said Moscow is trying to reduce the crisis through diplomatic channels.

According to him, during the visit of Russia’s acting interior minister to Pakistan, the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and civilian casualties in border areas were discussed.

The Russian ambassador also pointed to the negative impact of the closure of border crossings on Pakistan’s trade with Russia and Central Asian countries, adding that this move, along with US sanctions, has created new obstacles to expanding commercial ties.

Khorev said that at the same time as the Russian interior minister’s visit, Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia’s intelligence service, in Kabul, and Alexander Vinidiktov, deputy secretary of the country’s Security Council, in New Delhi, discussed these challenges. He said resolving the current crisis would be in the interests of regional stability and expressed hope that the border crossings would reopen as soon as possible.

The talks come as Russia seeks to strengthen its ties with Afghanistan. Just days ago, the head of Turkey’s intelligence service visited Kabul, and Russia’s deputy prime minister is also due to travel to Afghanistan soon.