MOSCOW: Russia on Monday urged Western countries to engage with the Taliban and for the European Union to re-open its embassy in Afghanistan, warning that the country was at risk of descending further into drug trafficking and terrorism.
The call came after Moscow last week hosted members of the regime for international talks, and the Taliban agreed to work with Russia, China and Iran on regional security.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, the Russian presidential envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, said the European Union would be right to re-open its mission in the country.
"European partners should not have left Afghanistan," he said, adding it was "high time" for European diplomats to return.
He called on the West to engage with the Taliban to prevent Afghanistan from sliding into chaos and warned that attempts to cut aid would be "absolutely counter-productive".
In an effort to survive, Kabulov warned, people in Afghanistan could resort to drug trafficking, terrorism and arms smuggling, pointing to "huge amount of weapons" left behind by Nato troops.
"If the West wants this, then they are on the right track," he said.
Kabulov also reiterated Russia's calls to unlock funding for the country.
Billions of dollars in Afghan reserves have been frozen in the West to keep cash away from the Taliban after it captured Afghanistan in mid-August.
"This is absolutely outrageous," said Kabulov. "Who are they punishing: the Afghan authorities or people? The money should be returned to the Afghan people."
Afghanistan's economy is in a parlous state with international aid cut off, food prices rising and unemployment spiking.
Kabulov said Russia was preparing to send more humanitarian aid to Afghanistan "in the coming days" but did not provide further details.
Meanwhile, Taliban government promised to ensure the security of any renewed European Union mission in Kabul, as Brussels considered making a cautious return.
A European official said "we can confirm we are working on establishing a minimal presence on the ground" after the Financial Times reported that the mission could reopen within a month.
"For security reasons, we cannot go into further detail," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The European External Action Service, along with many embassies, closed the doors of its mission in Kabul and evacuated its staff in August, as Taliban forces seized the capital.
But Brussels is now keen to reach out to the Taliban on tackling a looming humanitarian crisis, while stopping short of recognising the regime as Afghanistan's government.
Last week, European foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters that EU member states had agreed "that an EU minimal presence in Kabul was necessary to support the Afghan people and ensure safe passage for Afghans at risk, but that this did not mean any EU recognition". - AFP
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