8am: Sources in the National Resistance Front (NRF) confirm that Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the front, and Salahuddin Rabbani, the leader of Jamiat-e Islami of Afghanistan, are traveling to Moscow. The purpose of the visit of the top leaders of the (NRF) to Moscow is to meet with senior Taliban officials, according to sources.
Tolo News: “We are concerned over the ethnic protests that broke out in the north of the country. They were sparked by the arrest of a Taliban field commander, an ethnic Uzbek, on charges of illegal actions. We hope the new authorities will not succumb to provocations staged by destructive elements, which are aimed at
8am: The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says a delegation of Russian investors met with the second deputy prime minister Abdul Salam Hanafi, saying that they are interested in investing in oil and gas extraction in Afghanistan. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News: “I believe political recognition will be more like a symbolic act. As you see, the recognition is happening in practice. A delegation of the Taliban attended a summit within the Moscow structure here with us and they had the opportunity to talk face-to-face with the (envoys) of ten countries,” Kabulov told the Russian
Dawn: Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that insulting Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) does not count as an expression of artistic freedom but is a “violation of religious freedom”, according to state news agency TASS. Putin made these remarks during his annual press conference in Moscow on Thursday, adding that insults to
Ron Synovitz Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty December 25, 2021 The chaotic withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan and the lightning collapse of the internationally recognized government in Kabul in August spelled the end of the West’s nearly 20-year foothold in the war-torn country. Now, with the Taliban back in control of Afghanistan, other
Tolo News: Russian President Vladimir Putin linked the recognition of the current Afghan government with ground realities, saying that “forces that are now at the helm in Afghanistan should be prepared for all ethnic groups to be represented in the country’s leadership.” Putin made the remarks in response to a question asked by Sputnik News
NDTV: “We are certainly worried about everything related to terrorism and the fight against it. Terrorism is also fight against drug trafficking and organized crime. In this regard, we cannot but worry about the situation and how it is developing in Afghanistan,” Putin said at the 21st India- Russia Annual Summit at the Hyderabad House.
Aamaj: “This money will not go to buy weapons, the more so as the Taliban do not need weapons. The Taliban has weapons worth billions of dollars, which have been abandoned there,” he said on Tuesday at a plenary session of the VTB Capital investment forum Russia Calling! Click here to read more (external link).
8am: The United States special representative Tom West for peace in Afghanistan has met with Zamir Kabulov the Russian envoy for Afghanistan. Click here to read more (external link).