Russia and China Seek To Work with U.S. on Afghanistan

Sept. 17, 2021 (EIRNS)—Russian President Vladimir Putin declared today at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit that work was in progress in having the U.S. join with China, Pakistan and Russia in addressing the unstable situation in Afghanistan. He called for reconvening the Extended Troika of those four countries as the pathway to the future for Afghanistan.

The Extended Troika last met in Qatar on Aug. 11, before the Taliban’s rapid takeover on Aug. 15. In late August, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov said, as quoted in Sputnik: “We believe we should contribute to urgent stabilization jointly with other international partners. To that end, we plan to convene a new meeting of the Extended Troika, which includes Russia, the United States, China and Pakistan, in Kabul as soon as there are conditions. I mainly refer to the resumption of the Kabul airport operation for commercial civil aviation flights.” On Aug. 31, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that efforts were under way to reopen the airport to civilian air traffic. On Sept. 2, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that China welcomed Russia’s seeking a new Extended Troika meeting, and that they are in “robust” communication over Afghanistan. “A proper settlement of the Afghan issue requires the participation and support of the international community.”