Russian Official Threatens Taliban with Losses if They Attack Allies

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On Wednesday, the Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy to Afghanistan and director of the Foreign Ministry's Second Asian Department, Zamir Kabulov, said to Sputnik news agency: "We are closely monitoring the situation [in Afghanistan]. But when the Taliban see that any attempt to undermine the security of our allies in Central Asia will be fraught with great losses for them, they will start behaving."

Answering whether battles for Kabul are expected as the Taliban are gaining control of many areas in Afghanistan, he said that there would be battles for Kabul if the Kabul government keeps 'acting the way it does' and does not sit at the negotiating table.

According to the diplomat, Russia has suggestions for future Afghan-Afghan negotiations but said this is a "sensitive issue." 

He added that any suggestions posed by foreigners would be seen by the parties in Afghanistan as being imposed on them. Our aim is to bring the two warring parties to the negotiating table.

According to him, the United States and Russia have common interests in the Afghan settlement, and Moscow is willing to pursue a constructive approach with Washington on this case. 

This comes after Moscow warned Washington against deploying the forces withdrawing from Afghanistan in Central Asia yesterday .

The warning was issued by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who pointed out that Moscow and Washington are in communication regarding the possible consequences of the American withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Over the past weeks, the had announced its control over a number of towns and cities, including border and military areas and Afghan forces' equipment and ammunition.

Violence and bloody confrontations have escalated between government forces and Taliban fighters as negotiations to reach a permanent ceasefire and discussions on the country's political future stumble.

Kabulov had earlier held consultations with a delegation from the Taliban political bureau, in which the status quo in Afghanistan was discussed, as was the future of resuming negotiations between Afghan parties.

During these consultations, the Russian side had expressed its worries about the rise in tensions in the northern region of Afghanistan and called for preventing its spread outside of the country. 

In return, the Taliban vowed that its groups would respect Central Asian borders, confirming its interest in achieving lasting peace in the country through negotiations.

The Taliban delegation in Moscow announced that it is now in control of 85% of Afghan territory, emphasizing at the same time that the "Taliban" constitutes no threat to neighboring countries