Moscow Anticipated ‘Taliban’ Takeover in Afghanistan: Kabulov

Russian Special Presidential Representative for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov said that Moscow knew eight years ago that the “Taliban” would take over the government in Afghanistan.

In an interview with an Indian media outlet, Kabulov said that before the “Taliban” came to power in Afghanistan, “I had all kinds of contacts (with them).”

He said: “Let’s say, some eight years before they took over Kabul, I knew that they were coming to take over the entire Afghanistan.”

Kabulov stressed that Moscow expects the interim Afghan government officials to make more efforts to curb international terrorism.

In his view, interim government officials have so far taken many steps to reduce drug production.

Quoting the Russian President Putin, he said the “Taliban” are a reality in Afghanistan and if Afghans do not want them, they should “change their rules.”

Zamir Kabulov said: “Because the Taliban, as my President says, if you monitor what he says, is the reality, and they are running and governing a country, if Afghanistan doesn’t like them, it’s for the Afghan nation to change their rules.”

Kabulov also said that now is the time to normalize the world’s relations with the “Taliban,” which is very important not only for Russia but for all countries in the region, including India.