Despite the fact that Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban movement continues to be officially banned in Russia, Moscow and the Taliban delegations in Kabul have greatly improved relations according to Russia Ambassador to Kabul Dmitry Zhirnov, reported TASS today. “Work on the visits of Afghan delegations is very active. In the first half of the year alone, the Minister of Higher Education, the Minister of Industry and Trade, the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Chairman of the National Olympic Committee visited Russia. Last year there were even more visits,” he said in an interview with TASS published today.
Taliban delegations have taken part in the International Economic Forum Russia-Islamic World: KazanForum, the Ninth St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum, and other Russian events.
As both countries are under Western sanctions, they have been making close economic cooperations, including “moving away from the dollar is one of the options. Although, Afghanistan still has to work on its currency conversion,” he said. “Our exports are growing fast,” the ambassador further asserted.
Pointing to the fact that the two countries have become allies in the fight against terror, Ambassador Zhirnov stressed, “The Taliban certainly are our allies in the fight against terrorism. They are working to eradicate terrorist cells.”
