Russia Says "Hasty Withdrawal" Put Afghanistan At Risk

Afghanistan: Russia hosted Taliban representatives in Moscow last week, where the insurgent group claimed to have control over some 85 percent of Afghanistan.

Russia on Friday blamed the "hasty withdrawal" of US and NATO troops for a rapid deterioration in Afghanistan's security and warned of instability spreading to neighbouring countries. Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan have capitalised on the last stages of the withdrawal of foreign troops to launch offensives, capturing a swath of districts and border crossings, and encircling provincial capitals. "In recent days we have unfortunately seen a rapid deterioration of the situation in Afghanistan," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in comments carried by Russian news agencies. "In light of the hasty withdrawal of the US and NATO troops, there is huge uncertainty around the future of the political and military situation in this country," he said at a conference in the Uzbek capital Tashkent.