Putin on the 20-year war in Afghanistan: The American presence was a tragedy

The twenty years of war and American presence in Afghanistan were a “tragedy” for this country, the Russian president said today Vladimir Putin the day after the United States left.

“For 20 years the American soldiers have been present on this ground, for 20 years they have been trying to ‘civilize’ the people who live there, to plant their own standards and their own way of life there,” Putin said during a meeting with young people broadcast on television.

“The result is a tragedy, a loss for those who did it, the United States, and even more so for the people living on Afghan soil,” he said during a visit to the Russian Far East.

As for the future of the country after the withdrawal of the Americans and their allies, Vladimir Putin considers that it is “impossible to impose anything from abroad.”

“The situation must mature and, if we want it to mature faster and better, we must help the people,” he said.

The Russian authorities have taken a rather conciliatory stance against the Taliban, acknowledging their victory and calling on them to hold a “national dialogue” to form a representative government.

However, Moscow still considers the Taliban a “terrorist” organization, even though Russia has been in talks with them for years, and has no intention of acknowledging its power in Afghanistan unless they provide sufficient guarantees.

Russia is particularly concerned about the security of the former Soviet republics of Central Asia, which border Afghanistan. He is also concerned about the emergence of new Taliban-inspired jihadist organizations or backed by them. Moscow also wants to avoid a regional influx of refugees as well as a new increase in opium and heroin smuggling.