- Title: Putin says Russia needs to work with the Taliban on SCO talks
- Date: 17th September 2021
- Summary: NOVO-OGARYOVO, RUSSIA (SEPTEMBER 17, 2021) (RUSSIAN POOL) (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN. SAYING: "What is happening in Afghanistan is directly affecting the interests of the safety of SCO countries, moreover, numerous our countries having common borders with Afghanistan. So I think, first of all, it's important to use the potential of the organization to assist inclusive inter-Afghan peace process and at the same time to prevent all the threats of terrorism, drug traffic, and religious extremism outgoing from that country." PUTIN AT SCREEN (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN. SAYING: "This day Taliban is controlling almost all the territory of Afghanistan. We should stimulate new Afghan authorities to fulfill their promises about peace, normalising of people's lives, and safety for all. At this point, we can think about renewal of SCO - Afghanistan contact group, which was made to coordinate with Afghan partners."
- Embargoed: 1st October 2021 14:49
- Keywords: Putin. Afghanistan. Conflict Russia Tajikistan Taliban
- Location: DUSHANBE, TAJIKISTAN/ NOVO-OGARYOVO, RUSSIA
- City: DUSHANBE, TAJIKISTAN/ NOVO-OGARYOVO, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Europe,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA002EV3YY4N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Russia needs to work with the Taliban government in Afghanistan, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday at a meeting of a China- and Russia-led security bloc, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
On Friday Russia, China, Pakistan, and other regional states called on the United States to engage with the Taliban and fund aid to Afghanistan. However, they also urged the former insurgents to yield power to a more inclusive government.
The fate of Afghanistan dominated a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, formed 20 years ago as a talking shop for Russia, China, and ex-Soviet Central Asian states, but which has lately expanded into a bloc with broader regional ambitions. India and Pakistan joined in 2017, and Iran joined on Friday.
Leaders of the group said it was the responsibility of the West in general and the United States, in particular, to help avert a humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan, where Western aid propped up the government swept away by the Taliban last month.
(Production: Angelina Kazakova) - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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