Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his support for a key demandof the Taliban, urging Western countries to unfreeze Afghanistan’sfinancial assets.
Speaking at a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, PresidentPutin said Western countries bear “the main responsibility” for what ishappening in Afghanistan.
He said the main responsibility for what is happening there is being borneby those countries that have been fighting there for 20 years. PresidentPutin said the first thing they should do, in my opinion, is to unfreezethe Afghan assets to give Afghanistan a possibility to solve socio-economicproblems of paramount importance.
The Russian leader also praised the Taliban for their efforts in fightingthe Daesh/ISIS terrorist group in Afghanistan, noting there are victimsamong the movement.
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He also complimented Pakistan’s role in the Afghan settlement, saying it isone of the most important players in the region.
