RASC News Agency: Russia’s representative for Afghanistan has refuted recent statements by the Taliban spokesperson regarding Moscow’s alleged “commitment” to lifting economic restrictions against the Taliban. Zamir Kabulov told reporter Maryam Rahmati, “Russia has not agreed to any form of economic sanction relief concerning Afghanistan.” This denial comes after Zabihullah Mujahid, head of the Taliban delegation at the third Doha meeting, posted on his social media account that commitments were made at the Doha meeting to remove economic and banking restrictions.
The Taliban delegation leader in Doha praised the positions of Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, the United States, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Meanwhile, Vedant Patel, Deputy Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, stated in a press briefing on Monday that the U.S. had not committed to supporting the lifting of sanctions against the Taliban at the Doha meeting.
Mr. Patel attributed the banking restrictions on the Taliban to the group’s “brutal” actions against women’s rights. The U.S. Department of State spokesperson clarified that although the Taliban complain about the sanctions, humanitarian organizations and certain companies have the necessary freedom to support the Afghanistani people under U.S. Treasury Department authorizations.
It is noteworthy that the third Doha meeting concluded yesterday. Afghanistani women were not invited to the meeting, and no invited representative attended on their behalf. The agenda did not include discussions on human rights or women’s issues. Afghanistani women boycotted the meeting and held protests in Canada and Pakistan against it. Following the conclusion of the meeting, the Taliban spokesperson claimed that Russia had pledged to support the lifting of economic restrictions, a claim Russia has since denied.
