Russia Says It Will Expand Military and Security Cooperation With Afghanistan

Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, said her country plans to expand cooperation with the Taliban administration in counterterrorism, narcotics and defence affairs.

Speaking at a news conference in Moscow, Zakharova said Russia is seeking to resolve disputes between Afghanistan and Pakistan through diplomatic channels and is steadily increasing its cooperation with Kabul.

The Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman added that confronting security threats in the region is a shared responsibility among countries, and achieving that goal requires constructive engagement and joint efforts from all relevant parties.

The remarks come after Russia and the Taliban administration signed a military-technical cooperation agreement on May 27 this year. Such cooperation, taking shape at a sensitive and unstable time in Afghanistan, has raised widespread concerns about its impact on stability and the rights of the Afghan people, especially women and vulnerable groups.