Russian envoy to meet Taliban on Tuesday, to decide on recognising new govt on ‘actions’

Russia announced on Tuesday that its envoy to Afghanistan will meet with the Taliban in Kabul and that it would determine whether to recognise the new government based on its actions. In an interview with a local radio station, foreign ministry spokesman Zamir Kabulov stated that our envoy is in touch with Taliban leadership and would meet with the Taliban security coordinator tomorrow. The meetings between Moscow's envoy, Dmitry Zhirnov, and the Taliban, he claimed, will focus on how the Taliban planned to secure the Russian embassy in Kabul. Kabulov stated that the Russian government will first attentively monitor the new authorities' actions and only then a decision will be made.

This comes ahead of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) emergency meeting, which is set to begin at 10 a.m. on Monday in New York. The extraordinary conference is scheduled to feature UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has frequently criticised the brutality against Afghan civilians.

The Taliban's cruelty and forcible takeover of Afghanistan has been criticised by the majority of the United Nations' over 190 member countries.

The negotiations between the Taliban and the Russian envoy will mostly focus on how the Taliban will secure its embassy in Kabul.

On Sunday, the Taliban completed their military coup by seizing Kabul and seizing control of the presidential palace. President Ashraf Ghani, his family, chief of staff, and national security advisor have already departed the country.

• Afghanistan
• Taliban
• Russia
• Kabul