Russia will act as a mediator between the Taliban and Tajikistan?

Photo: Internet

Russia has begun mediating in the verbal conflict between Dushanbe and Kabul.

On September 30, Deputy Head of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexey Zaitsev stated that Moscow calls on Dushanbe and Kabul to seek mutually acceptable options for resolving the tension at the Tajik-Afghan border.

Zaitsev emphasized: “We are watching with concern the escalation of tension in Tajik-Afghan relations against the backdrop of mutual sharp statements from the leaders of the two countries. There have been reports of both sides amassing armed forces at the common border. We urge Dushanbe and Kabul to seek mutually acceptable options for resolving the current situation.”

Taliban leaders stated that tens of thousands of special forces fighters are stationed in the Afghan border provinces of Takhar, Kunduz, and Badakhshan.

Also, a month ago, Tajikistan strengthened the security of its borders with Afghanistan using reserve troops. Over the past week, two military parades involving President Emomali Rahmon were held in the border areas of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan.

Sharp statements between Tajikistan and the Taliban began to emerge when President Emomali Rahmon refused to officially recognize the Taliban government; at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, the Tajik side described the actions of the Taliban in Panjshir Province as a violation of human rights and called on the Taliban to form an inclusive government involving all ethnic groups.

Earlier, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and Mullah Abdusalam Hanafi stated in an interview with Al Jazeera that “Tajikistan is interfering in the internal affairs of Afghanistan.”