Russia won't participate in Afghan government inauguration

Russia will not take part in the new Taliban government's inauguration ceremony in Afghanistan. The Kremlin said on Friday. According to the RIA news agency, the speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament said earlier this week that Russia would be represented at the inauguration by ambassador-level officials. Earlier on Monday, Russian envoy to India Nikolay Kudashev had said that the recognition of Islamist insurgents Taliban as the new government of Afghanistan is “too early to say” and that the situation is the war-torn country hasn’t “come as a surprise” to Russia.

The Taliban has reportedly invited several countries, including Pakistan, China and Russia, to attend the ceremony of the new government formation in Afghanistan. Notably, these three are among the very few countries still operating their embassies in the Central Asian country that has been taken over by the insurgents. Taliban has also stressed that it wants good ties with all countries, including India, and vowed not to allow Afghan soil to be used against any other country. The supreme leader Mullah Hibatullah (also spelt as Haibatullah) Akhundzada will lead the new government in Afghanistan.