Afghanistan under Taliban rule is facing “certain problems,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said, while also describing the country’s long-running conflict as a “terrible situation,” Afintl.af reports.
He noted that the Taliban, despite the challenges, maintains control over the situation in the country. In an interview with India Today ahead of his two-day visit to New Delhi, Putin emphasized that the Taliban has taken measures against terrorist groups, including ISIS, easing earlier concerns expressed by Russian officials about the movement’s links to international terrorist networks.
Putin arrived in India on Thursday, where he was welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, despite U.S. pressure on New Delhi to reduce engagement with Moscow.
In the interview, he ignored recent warnings from Russian diplomats about the growing threat of terrorism in the region. Concerns intensified after the killing of five Chinese citizens near the Tajik-Afghan border, prompting Tajikistan to demand action from the Taliban.
Putin became the first leader of a UN Security Council member state to recognize the Taliban administration. He stressed that maintaining contacts with the group is necessary to influence the situation in Afghanistan and also addressed restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women journalists, noting that the visit of Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to India allowed them to voice their objections directly.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
December 5, 2025