ST. PETERSBURG (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 22nd September, 2021) Pakistan sees Russia's constructive contribution to the Afghan peace process and will continue engaging with it in different settings, the Pakistani ambassador to Afghanistan told Sputnik.
"Russia has been engaged in the Afghan peace process for many years in a very constructive manner. We will continue to engage with Russia in different settings," Mansoor Ahmad Khan said in an interview.
Pakistan is relying on its Troika partners � Russia, China and the United States � for restoring Afghanistan's stability after the Taliban (banned in Russia as a terrorist group) took power in Kabul in mid-August, he said.
The diplomat said that the Pakistani special envoy for Afghanistan would keep in touch with his Russian, Chinese and US counterparts in the coming days and weeks. The focus of Pakistani engagement in the neighbor nation has shifted from evacuations to relief aid.
"Now our focus is on ensuring our humanitarian engagement and assisting Afghanistan in supplying food, restoring country's airport. Turkey and Qatar are engaged in ensuring normal connectivity," Mansoor Ahmad Khan said.
Pakistani, Russian and Chinese special envoys met with the Taliban in Kabul on Tuesday to talk about the militants' vision of Afghanistan's future. The Taliban have been under pressure to form an inclusive government after it announced an all-male Pashtun-dominated lineup in early September.
