Media outlets report that Russian President Vladimir Putin said on July 4 that the Taliban, a banned group in Russia, are Moscow's "allies" in fighting terrorism because they are in control of Afghanistan.
Interfax says that speaking at a press briefing in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, the Russian leader acknowledged that Afghanistan faces issues that require “constant attention” from both Russia and the international community.
“Generally, we have to proceed from the fact that the Taliban control power in the country. In this sense, the Taliban are certainly our allies in the fight against terrorism, because any acting government is concerned with the stability of its administration and the state it governs," he emphasized.
"The Taliban, the Taliban movement, assumed certain obligations. And by large, there are still issues that require constant attention both inside the country and from the international community. But overall, we should proceed from the fact that the Taliban movement controls power in the country. And in this sense, the Taliban are certainly our ally fighting terrorism," Putin told journalists after a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit on July 4, according to Interfax.
"That is because any incumbent authorities are interested in the stability of their power and the stability of the state which they head and govern," he said.
The Taliban are interested that "everything is stable, calm and goes according to certain rules" in Afghanistan, he said. "And we repeatedly received such signals from the Taliban movement about that it is ready to work with us on the anti-terrorist trek as well," Putin said.
Putin was reportedly responding to a question whether the Taliban should take part in fighting terrorist threats, in particular posed by terrorist groups that gained ground in Afghanistan, such as ISIL, which is a terrorist organization banned in Russia, and whether they are Russia's ally or enemy.
The Russian leader reportedly noted that Moscow has received signals from the Taliban indicating their readiness to cooperate in combating terrorism.
