Russia hosted a conference on Afghanistan on Wednesday with the participation of the Taliban government and nine other states.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on the new rulers in Kabul to form a “truly inclusive government that reflects the interests of all ethnic groups and political forces in the country”.

At the same time, he said at the start of the event that Moscow recognized the “efforts” of the Taliban to “stabilize the military and political situation and establish a state apparatus”.

Friederike Böge

Political correspondent for China, North Korea and Mongolia.

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Lavrov had already made it clear on Tuesday that "official recognition of the Taliban is not currently under discussion" for Russia.

He spoke out in favor of “mobilizing the resources of the international community to support Kabul with effective financial humanitarian aid”.

Lavrov called on the Taliban not to make their territory available as a “stepping stone for actions against neighboring states”.

"Effective" and "constructive"

The deputy prime minister of the Taliban government, Abdul Salam Hanafi, campaigned in Moscow for diplomatic recognition of the Islamic emirate.

The isolation of Afghanistan serves no one, he said, according to a report by the broadcaster Tolo News.

He assured that Afghanistan posed no threat to other countries.

The United States did not accept Moscow's invitation to attend the conference.

The State Department had given logistical reasons for this and promised to want to participate again in the future in the so-called Troika-plus format, which brings together Russia, America, China and Pakistan.

The spokesman Ned Price described the format as "effective" and "constructive".

In a smaller group, representatives of China, Russia and Pakistan agreed on Tuesday, according to Lavrov's information, about financial aid for Afghanistan.

He didn't give any details.

China and Russia are united by concerns about the infiltration of Islamist fighters from Afghanistan into the Central Asian states and concerns about a strengthening of the terrorist militia “Islamic State” in Afghanistan.

At the same time, they compete for influence in the region.

The Central Asian countries as well as India and Iran also took part in the conference in Moscow on Wednesday.