Russia's Sergey Lavrov shares concerns over West trying to meddle in Afghanistan

Russia has shared its concerns over the attempts made by non-regional players to intensify their activities in and around Afghanistan. The issue was raised by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday, September 29. The Russian Foreign Minister has addressed his concerns to the participants in the Moscow format consultations on Afghanistan now taking place in Kazan, in a written letter.  

"We are concerned about the attempts of extra-regional players to become more active in the Afghan direction," wrote the top Russian diplomat in his message, reported TASS. The message was read aloud at the event by Russian Special Presidential Representative for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov, who also serves as director of the Foreign Ministry’s Second Asian Department. 

What are Lavrov's Concerns?

According to the Russian Foreign Minister, The full-fledged unification of efforts by the countries of the region with the member states of the NATO bloc would be possible "only if the latter fully acknowledge their full responsibility for the baleful results of their 20-year military presence in Afghanistan, which ended in a complete fiasco. While hitting out at the US for what they have done in Afghanistan, Lavrov stressed that the Western countries must take responsibility "for the country's post-conflict reconstruction". Further, he added, "In this regard, Washington's freezing of Afghan bank assets is counterproductive and only escalates the situation and complicates the already difficult living conditions of ordinary Afghans." 

Meanwhile, the Russian Special Presidential Representative for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov said that the West should not run away from the responsibility for its disastrously "failed experiment in Afghanistan" and put the burden onto the shoulders of the countries of the region. While making a strong remark at the US in the Moscow Format, the Russian envoy declared, "The collective West should not be allowed to escape responsibility for its failed 20-year experiment in Afghanistan and shift this responsibility onto the shoulders of the region’s countries - (onto) our shoulders." Lambasting the West, he said that they are aware of the "Westerners’ other schemes, aimed, it seems, at grabbing the initiative in Afghan affairs away from the region’s powers." He also accused the West of trying to "drive a wedge by drawing some so-called selected partners into their orbit and turning their back on others." 

Some facts about Moscow Format Talks

• The Moscow Format dialogue mechanism in Afghanistan was initiated in 2017 with the primary goal of facilitating an intra-Afghan political settlement to stabilise the situation in the country.
• The Russia-headed regional mechanism has assumed greater significance since the Taliban takeover in August 2021.
• While the countries involved in the platform are yet to accord full-fledged recognition to the Taliban, they have sought to engage with the new rulers in Kabul on security, humanitarian and of late, economic matters.
• The fourth meeting under the Moscow Format was held last November, being attended by senior officials from Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as per a Russian readout. It was also attended by officials from Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
• The Taliban wasn't represented at the last year's meeting.