Russia accepts Taliban diplomats

The Russian president’s special envoy for Afghanistan says the Taliban have not given a reason for removing the current ambassador, but Moscow is ready to accept diplomats nominated by the Taliban.

“Afghanistan’s current officials have asked us to receive two or three diplomats here,” Zamir Kabulov, the Russian president’s special envoy for Afghanistan and director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Asia Division, said in an interview. “Note that the issue is additional staff, they are not raising the issue of removing the current ambassador from office.”

He added that Moscow agrees to accept diplomats nominated by the Taliban.

“As far as the internal affairs of the Afghan authorities and their embassies are concerned, we will not interfere in such processes,” Kabulov said.

Russia has repeatedly rejected the decision to remove the ambassador appointed by Ghani’s government, but this is the first time a high-ranking official has spoken of accepting Taliban diplomats.