Taliban turn their faces to Russia after dialogues with Trump are ‘dead’

Days after Trump declared that the dialogues between the Taliban and the US are ‘dead’, a negotiating team from the Taliban went to Russia this Friday, a representative told the foreign news agency.

The state agency of Russia cited the Taliban’s Qatar-based spokesman Suhail Shaheen as saying that the delegation had held consultations with Zamir KAbulove, the ambassador of President Vladimir Putin from Afghanistan.

As the Taliban was authorized to talk to the reporters he confirmed to the news agency and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Interfax news agency reported an unidentified Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said that the meeting in Russia underlined the necessity of renewing talks between the US and Taliban.

The Taliban also confirmed that they were ready to have dialogues with the US.

After the collapse of talks between the US and the Taliban, this was the first international visit of the Taliban.

The team of Taliban was being led by Mullah Sher Mohammad Stanikzai.

Suhail Shaheen told the Taliban’s official website on Tuesday that the group was still communicating with US negotiations, at least to find out what to do next.

The leadership council of the Taliban opposed its negotiations going to Camp David and admonished those who had accepted US peace ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad’s invitation that was extended at the end of August.

Shaheen said that the Camp David visit was delayed, saying the Taliban wanted the agreement signed and witnessed by the foreign ministers of several countries including Russia. He also said that the Taliban also wanted Qatar to announce the agreement before any Camp David meeting.

Moscow has been accused of aiding the Taliban as a safeguard against a growing Islamic State affiliate that has close ties to the Islamic Movement of Afghanistan.