Russia wants ‘peaceful’ Afghanistan: Envoy

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - Russia wants a "peaceful" Afghanistan, the nation's UN ambassador said Tuesday about a potential agreement between the Afghan government and Taliban to solve the country's long-standing conflict.

Vassily Nebenzia said Moscow had "quite helpful and productive" consultations wit Washington on Afghanistan during a news conference while assuming the UN Security Council presidency.

"We want a peaceful Afghanistan, a settlement in Afghanistan. Whoever reaches the agreement and it is good for people of Afghanistan, we will support it," said Nebenzia

His remarks were delivered one day after U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad said an agreement on paper had been reached in principle with the Taliban.

Earlier Sunday, he said "we are at the threshold of an agreement."

Over the weekend, the U.S. and Taliban announced they concluded the latest round of marathon peace talks in Doha, Qatar.

"We will guarantee any agreement that will be reached by Afghanis themselves," the Russian envoy said, adding that Moscow did not have a double agenda in the war-torn country.

"We are wishing that Afghani people themselves reach an agreement. We welcome [an] early agreement," he added.

The Taliban have been holding peace talks with the U.S. for nearly a year but refuse to recognize or negotiate with the Afghan government.