Russia's Putin, China's Jinping agree to step up efforts to counter Afghanistan 'threats'

Russian President Vlimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping recently agreed to step up efforts to counter “threats” emerging from Afghanistan following Taliban takeover. According to Russian news agency Tass, Putin and Jinping spoke over a phone call to express reiness to boost efforts against 'threats of terrorism and drug trafficking from Afghanistan'. Kremlin said that two leers also spoke of 'importance of establishing peace' in Afghanistan and 'preventing spre of instability to jacent regions'. 

As per media agency, Putin and Jinping even agreed to engage in more bilateral contacts and closer coordination primarily through diplomatic agencies. y agreed to "make most of potential" of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) that is due to convene for a summit in Tajikistan next month.

China, Russia on Taliban takeover 

Meanwhile, Moscow has been cautiously optimistic about new leership in Kabul. Russia has said that Taliban h me Kabul safer in first 24 hours than it h been under Ghani government. However, Putin has still warned of Afghan militants entering neighbouring countries as refugees. 

Putin has criticised involvement of outside powers in Afghanistan's domestic affairs. Russia, apart from China and Pakistan, has alrey offered friendly relations with Taliban government in Afghanistan, in spite of UN imploring nations to not do so. However, Russia is rey to supply weapons and military hardware to its allies in CSTO security bloc that border Afghanistan at a special low price, Russia's deputy prime minister was quoted as saying by RIA news agency.

China, on or hand, has said that it is rey to deepen “friendly and cooperative relations" with Afghanistan. China supports forming of an “open and inclusive” government in Afghanistan with consultations of or factions. A Chinese government official said that insurgents must comply with ir pledge of not permitting any terrorist forces especially 'Uyghur militant group' from Xinjiang province, called East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM). 

(Image: AP)