KABUL. Dec 20 (Interfax) - Russian Special Presidential Representative for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov and Amir Khan Muttaqi, foreign minister of the Taliban Movement (a terrorist organization banned in Russia) in control of Afghanistan, have discussed the development of bilateral relations and trade.
"The meeting addressed Afghan-Russian relations, trade growth, and the Afghan government's presence in regional and international mechanisms," Taliban Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said on social media.
Muttaqi thanked Russia for supporting Afghanistan at international meetings and expressed Kabul's readiness to facilitate the transportation of Russian goods to South Asia after reconstruction of the Salang highway.
In turn, Kabulov said that the United States should unfreeze Afghan bank reserves to boost the national economy. Russia is ready to broaden trade with Afghanistan and welcomes the readiness of Afghan businessmen to come to Russia, he said.
The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, when the United States, its allies and the government they backed fled Afghanistan after a 20-year presence. The Taliban, whose leaders remain on UN sanction lists, has not been formally recognized by any state.