Putin calls for working relationship with “non-inclusive” Taliban government in Afghanistan

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<strong>A pragmatic Russian President, Vladimir Putin has advocated that SCO  countries should establish a working relationship with the Taliban government in Afghanistan, but recognition of a new government should only be based on a co-ordinated response.</strong></p>
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The Afghan government formed by the Taliban is not representative and inclusive, but it is essential to work with it, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday at a joint meeting of the leaders of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Russia’s Tass news agency reported.</p>
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"The Taliban movement, having actually become the country’s sole master, formed its government, which assumed responsibility for Afghanistan’s future. This is an interim government, as the Taliban themselves say, and it cannot be really called representative or inclusive," he said, adding that there are no members of other ethnic groups in it.</p>
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"However, it appears that it is necessary to work with it too. As for recognition, I believe, and I agree with those who spoke about it, that we need to coordinate our stance on the issue," the Russian leader stressed.</p>
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Wary of the US-dominated Doha process, Putin offered three platforms which could be used to establish a stable government in Afghanistan.</p>
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Putin cited the previous Moscow format of consultations on Afghanistan, which covered countries of the SCO and the CSTO. "Its work can be revived if necessary and if all its member states agree," the Russian leader said.</p>
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Putin also proposed the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group, "which was set up to work with Afghan partners," as another regional but inclusive forum.</p>
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Besides, the Russian President said that a dialogue "through the mechanism of the extended troika on Afghanistan (Russia, China, Pakistan and the US…” would be optimal.</p>
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