TASHKENT – The Russian officials are saying that the Taliban group hascontrol over half of Afghanistan’s territory as they insist on intra-Afghanpeace talks to end the conflict.

Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, in his speech at the Tashkentconference on Afghanistan, claimed that the Taliban group has fully orpartially control over half of the territory of Afghanistan.

He said the group continues to conduct military and acts of sabotage whichhave resulted into the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan.

He also insisted that achieving peace and stability in Afghanistan was onlypossible by launching a constructive dialogue beteween the Afghangovernment and the Taliban group.