MOSCOW. June 9 (Interfax) - Moscow would like to see the temporary truce announced in Afghanistan grow into a long-term one, but doubts that such a scenario is possible, Russian Foreign Ministry Second Asian Department Director and presidential representative for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov said on Saturday.
"Of course, this is good. Three days of peace without firing and killings is better than with both," Kabulov told Interfax following the Taliban's decision to announce, for the first time, a three-day truce in Afghanistan.
"But we would like to see this reconciliatory move on both sides grow into something more long-term and solid. This is what we were talking about when convening the Moscow format meetings, and this is what we will talk about," he said.
"It takes a certain critical mass of readiness with both sides to begin this admittedly difficult conversation, which could eventually lead to national reconciliation and an end to the civil war," he said.
When asked whether the truce could become a foundation for something more serious, Kabulov said, "As a realist, I am afraid not. Taliban members are Afghans, too, and they're celebrating the end of Ramadan."
"I'd rather not be looking ahead too much. As much I'd like to, the reality may be more prosaic," he added.
"This is unlikely to become a prelude to something more serious. The [Taliban's] summer campaign is about to reach its peak in Afghanistan, and it is highly unlikely that the Taliban will be ready to let it go. They will carry on. At least, that's my feeling," Kabulov said.