Moscow has no intention to sell weapons to Taliban - Diplomat

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Russia does not intend to sell weapons to Afghanistan's new government, and all talk about such a possibility is nonsense, Russian Special Presidential Representative for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov told Sputnik.

The Taliban do not need any weapons, they have enough, Kabulov said, adding that the US left so many weapons that "it would be enough for two countries."

The diplomat also said that despite Afghanistan's economic troubles, the Taliban did not resort to selling these weapons to other groups, "especially anti-aircraft systems, which the Americans must have abandoned when they ran away," adding that "this ... will fall into the hands of terrorist groups of all kinds from Europe to Africa. Then there will be big trouble," he added.

West should bear full financial responsibility for Afghan situation 

Kabulov also told Sputnik that Western countries led by the US should bear full financial responsibility for the situation in Afghanistan, adding that Russia's focus is on providing humanitarian aid to the neighboring country.

The diplomat recalled Putin's words that "those who have been there for twenty years and drove the country to this state, they must bear the lion's share of financial responsibility."

"They — the West — froze Afghan assets, these are not the money of the Taliban, but the money of the Afghan people. And Russia now takes a highly moral position, we are already helping Afghanistan with humanitarian supplies," he added.

Afghanistan appoints permanent representative to UN

Afghanistan has appointed Naseer Ahmad Faiq as its Permanent Representative to the United Nations, the country's permanent mission to the organization said.

Faiq replaced the former head of the mission, Ghulam Isaczai, appointed by toppled President Ashraf Ghani.

"The Permanent Mission of the I.R of Afghanistan to the United Nations in New York would like to inform that Mr. Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Minister Counsellor, has assumed the leadership of the Mission in the capacity of Charge d'Affaires," the mission tweeted.

The Permanent Mission of the I.R of Afghanistan to the United Nations in New York would like to inform that Mr. Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Minister Counsellor, has assumed the leadership of the Mission in the capacity of Charge d'Affaires.

— Afghanistan Mission (@AfghanMissionUN) December 17, 2021