NRF Leader’s Presence in Moscow Coaxes Russia To Urge Taliban For An Inclusive Government

Maria Zakharova, Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson, referred to the National Resistance Front (NRF) leader Ahmad Massoud's trip to Moscow and urged the Taliban to form an inclusive government.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Zakharova said that the Taliban and representatives of other ethnic groups should engage in negotiations.

She mentioned that three days ago, Massoud met with Sergey Mironov, the head of the “A Just Russia” Party at the Russian Parliament.

Russia has repeatedly asked the Taliban to form an inclusive government. Last year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow would consider recognising the group as the legitimate government of Afghanistan if the Taliban guarantees the establishment of an inclusive government.

Zakharova added that although the Taliban government has not been recognised, Russia continues to cooperate with the group. However, she also emphasised that there are still terrorist threats and social, economic, and human rights issues under the rule of the Taliban.

"If the situation proceeds according to an unfavourable scenario, international terrorist organisations, primarily ISIS, will take advantage of the situation and plan to expand further outside of Afghanistan, especially in Central Asia,” said Zakharova.

She added that Russia wants the Taliban and representatives of other ethnic groups to start a dialogue in order to form a truly inclusive government, intensify the fight against terrorism, and drugs, and ensure human rights.

Ahmad Massoud, the leader of NRF, met with Sergei Mironov, in the State Duma of Russia in Moscow.

According to a statement by A Just Russia Party, the two sides discussed the political situation in Afghanistan.

In a statement, the NRF also wrote that Massoud discussed the ways out of the current crisis in Afghanistan during a meeting with Russian officials.

Two days ago, Russian expert Andrey Serenko, in an analysis wrote that the Taliban's focus is on dialogue with the United States and the group's growing financial and political dependence on Washington is probably a reason behind Moscow reconsidering its relations with the Taliban.

However, he said that despite the ties with the NRF, Russia will still try to maintain a dialogue with the Taliban, so that "all the eggs are not in one basket".