Representation of the political bureau of the movement of Taliban is in Moscow, the Russian news agency Interfax reported, citing its own source, noting that it is a terrorist organization that is outlawed in the Russian Federation.
The Taliban have assured Moscow that they will not attack the Afghan-Tajik border, nor will they allow anyone to use Afghan land for attacks against Russia or neighboring countries. The remarks were made by the official representative of the political office of the Taliban movement, whose delegation is in the Russian capital.
“Of course, we will not attack the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. “We assure the Russian side that our policy is not aggression,” Mohammad Sohail Sahin, a spokesman for the movement’s political bureau, told TASS.
“We came (to Moscow) to discuss the current situation in Afghanistan with the Russian side, as well as to assure it that we will not allow anyone to use Afghan land to attack Russia or neighboring countries,” he said. Mohammad Sohail Sahin.
The Taliban delegation also assured Moscow that it did not seek to seize power in Afghanistan by military means.
“Occupying Afghanistan militarily is not our policy. “Our position is to seek a political solution to the Afghan issues being discussed in Doha,” Sahin said, adding that “we have reaffirmed our commitment to a political solution here in Moscow.”
Sahin says the main purpose of the delegation’s visit to the Qatari-based political office in Moscow is to discuss the situation in northern Afghanistan.
“The main purpose of our meeting is to discuss the recent events that took place in Afghanistan, especially in the northern part of the country. “Many areas are not under our control recently,” Sahin said.
Clashes are raging in the city of Kala i Naou
Fighting between the Taliban and Afghan government forces is raging for a second day in the city of Qala-i-Naw and dense black smoke is rising in the skies of this provincial capital in northwestern Afghanistan.
The government has flown hundreds of special forces men to Badghis province to repel the Islamist insurgent attack, the first against a provincial capital since the latest phase of US troops began its withdrawal.
“The Taliban are still in the city (…). We see them passing by and back on motorcycles,” said Aziz Tawakoli, a resident of Kalai Nao, the capital of Badghis. He added that almost half of the residents have left.
The country is “going through one of the most difficult periods since the transition” as the withdrawal of foreign forces draws to a close and fighting is spreading, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said earlier. “International forces are leaving their countries after 20 years here, but the country can be controlled,” he said in a statement, expressing confidence that his government could handle the crisis.
From London, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that most British troops had now left Afghanistan as part of a NATO-led operation alongside US forces. “I will not reveal the timing of the withdrawal but I can tell parliament that most of our soldiers have already left,” Johnson said.
US President Joe Biden is expected to make statements later, after the meeting of the National Security Group.
According to Abdul Latif Rostai, director of Badghis Health Services, at least ten civilians have been taken to hospitals with injuries since this morning. On Wednesday, just hours after the US military announced that it had completed “90%” of its withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Taliban entered Kalai Nao, a city of about 75,000 people.
“The Taliban have resumed attacks in many parts of the city,” Badmish Governor Hesamuddin Sams told AFP, adding that “the enemy is being pushed back and is leaving.”
Afghan forces retaliated to retake the city.
“We women are very worried (…) If the Taliban stay in the city, we will no longer be able to work, we will lose all the progress that has been made in terms of our rights,” said Parisila Herawai, a Kala Naou activist.
Zia Gul Habibi, a member of the Badge County Council, spoke of “sporadic” fighting in the city. “Some members of the security forces have joined the Taliban, helping and guiding them,” he said.
On Wednesday, guerrillas released hundreds of detainees from the city jail.
In a Twitter post, Defense Department spokeswoman Fawana Aman announced that “new commandos arrived in Badghis last night and will launch a large-scale operation.”
According to a security source, the attack also “affected” neighboring provinces, such as Herat, which borders Iran. One of its districts, which borders Badghis, fell into the hands of the guerrillas at night. “This fact has spread fear almost everywhere,” said the source, who asked not to be named.
Local officials and rebel sources reported that two districts of Herat were occupied overnight.
Ross Wilson, the US envoy, criticized the attack on Badghis, saying it “violates human rights”.
Human Rights Watch said the Taliban ousted people from their homes, looted or set fire to hundreds of homes.
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