Russia Calls for Afghanistan Dialogue Free of Pressure and ‘Blackmail’

DID Press: Russia has called for a comprehensive approach to Afghanistan based on trust-based dialogue with the country’s authorities and free from pressure and “blackmail,” Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia said at a UN Security Council briefing on Afghanistan.

Nebenzia said Russia has consistently supported what it describes as a realistic and comprehensive approach to Afghanistan, grounded in objective analysis, a balanced assessment of the situation and constructive international engagement that takes into account the needs of the Afghan people.

He said dialogue with the Taliban should be based on mutual trust and conducted without pressure or blackmail. According to Nebenzia, this approach is supported by regional actors, particularly participants in the Moscow Format and its regional quartet, as well as the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Nebenzia also welcomed what he described as a pragmatic approach within the framework promoted by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). He said engagement with the Taliban should address issues including diplomatic representation, the lifting of sanctions, unfreezing Afghan assets, countering terrorism and narcotics, and protecting human rights.

He argued that addressing these issues without preconditions would contribute to Afghanistan’s reintegration into the international community. Nebenzia also criticized what he called selective approaches focused primarily on issues prioritized by Western donors, saying such policies would delay efforts to resolve the Afghan issue.