According to Mr. Lavrov, the former members of the Taliban strive to get back in power in order to undermine the foundations of the new Afghan state. “Apparently, they want to disrupt elections and throw the country into the abyss of bloody civil strife and ethnic violence,” he said.

The Russian Foreign Minister supported the idea to combine parliamentary and presidential elections in Afghanistan. There were technical and financial reasons for that, he said. “Our main goal is to ensure public confidence in the new government and prevent the enemies of the political process from capitalizing on the difficulties of the new Afghan administration,” Mr. Lavrov stressed. The Afghan people should get real representation in the institutes of power, and they should believe in the possibility of a new life.

Ensuring security, the construction of new Afghan armed forces, the police, special services and judicial system are key priorities, along with the disarmament of Afghan militias, the demobilization of former fighters and their return to peaceful life, according to Mr. Lavrov.