OREANDA-NEWS. Negotiations with representatives of the radical Taliban movement (recognized as terrorist and prohibited in Russia) in the Moscow format are necessary for a better understanding of the situation in Afghanistan. This was stated by the presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov, he is quoted by TASS.

Peskov also clarified that de jure, Russia, like other world powers, did not recognize the Taliban, but de facto they are the leadership in Afghanistan. The situation in the country, he said, is "extremely important" for Moscow and its allies.

"Direct contacts are aimed at better understanding what is happening in this state, what are their [the Taliban's] intentions, plans for the long and medium term," a Kremlin official explained the situation.

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday, October 20, met with a delegation of the radical Taliban movement in Moscow.

The Moscow format meeting on Afghanistan will be held in the Russian capital on October 20. Representatives from ten countries of the region, as well as a high-ranking Taliban delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi, will take part in the multilateral consultations. It was reported that members of the terrorist organization intend to ask for economic and political support for Afghanistan.