Russia’s special envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, said Russia is ready to support the Taliban in gaining legitimacy if human rights are to be upheld and all nations included in the government.
Mr Kabulov told the Moscow-based Arbi Ka newspaper that although there are representatives of other ethnic groups in the Taliban government, they are also members of the Taliban.
He said Russia’s demand for human rights is that the Taliban recognize women’s and other civil rights and work to protect them.
Mr Kabulov made the remarks two days after General Sir David Richards, the former head of the British Armed Forces, made a similar statement.
Speaking to the BBC, he called on the international community to recognize the Taliban government in order to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan.
But the international community says if the Taliban want legitimacy from Afghans and the international community, they must respect the rights of all Afghans, especially Afghan women, and form a coalition government.
Mr Kabulov, a Russian envoy, said he did not want Russia’s demands on the Taliban because Afghanistan has its own cultural and religious values.
But he added that he had instructed the Taleban leadership to study the policies of other Muslim countries.
Talks have recently intensified on recognizing the Taliban and cooperating with the group in the fight against ISIS.
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