Russia's Sergey Lavrov shares concerns over West trying to meddle in Afghanistan

Russia has shared its concerns over attempts me by non-regional players to intensify ir activities in and around Afghanistan. issue was raised by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday, September 29. Russian Foreign Minister has dressed his concerns to participants in Moscow format consultations on Afghanistan now taking place in Kazan, in a written letter.  

"We are concerned about attempts of extra-regional players to become more active in Afghan direction," wrote top Russian diplomat in his message, reported TASS.  message was re aloud at event by Russian Special Presidential Representative for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov, who also serves as director of Foreign Ministry’s Second Asian Department. 

What are Lavrov's Concerns?

According to Russian Foreign Minister, full-fledged unification of efforts by countries of region with member states of NATO bloc would be possible "only if latter fully acknowledge ir full responsibility for baleful results of ir 20-year military presence in Afghanistan, which ended in a complete fiasco. While hitting out at US for what y have done in Afghanistan, Lavrov stressed that Western countries must take responsibility "for country's post-conflict reconstruction". Furr, he ded, "In this regard, Washington's freezing of Afghan bank assets is counterproductive and only escalates situation and complicates alrey difficult living conditions of ordinary Afghans." 

Meanwhile, Russian Special Presidential Representative for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov said that West should not run away from responsibility for its disastrously "failed experiment in Afghanistan" and put burden onto shoulders of countries of region. While making a strong remark at US in Moscow Format, Russian envoy declared, " collective West should not be allowed to escape responsibility for its failed 20-year experiment in Afghanistan and shift this responsibility onto shoulders of region’s countries - (onto) our shoulders." Lambasting West, he said that y are aware of "Westerners’ or schemes, aimed, it seems, at grabbing initiative in Afghan affairs away from region’s powers." He also accused West of trying to "drive a wedge by drawing some so-called selected partners into ir orbit and turning ir back on ors." 

Some facts about Moscow Format Talks

• Moscow Format dialogue mechanism in Afghanistan was initiated in 2017 with primary goal of facilitating an intra-Afghan political settlement to stabilise situation in country.
• Russia-heed regional mechanism has assumed greater significance since Taliban takeover in August 2021.
• While countries involved in platform are yet to accord full-fledged recognition to Taliban, y have sought to engage with new rulers in Kabul on security, humanitarian and of late, economic matters.
• fourth meeting under Moscow Format was held last November, being attended by senior officials from Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as per a Russian reout. It was also attended by officials from Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
• Taliban wasn't represented at last year's meeting.