US and its allies led to new crisis in Afghanistan: Vladimir Putin at BRICS

Speaking at the virtual BRICS summits, Putin said: "The withdrawal of the US and their allies from Afghanistan has led to a new crisis situation, and it remains unclear how it will affect regional and global security, so it is absolutely right that our countries pay special attention to this issue."

Devoting a large part of his opening remarks to Afghanistan, the Russian President said: “Understandably, just like its BRICS partners, Russia has consistently advocated the establishment of long-awaited peace and stability in Afghanistan, where the people have been fighting for many decades and have earned the right to independently determine what their state will be like."

He said Russia is "not interested in Afghanistan remaining a threat to neighbouring countries or having terrorism and illegal drug trafficking coming from the Afghan territory threaten us."

"We are interested in stopping the migration flow and we want the Afghans to be able to live a peaceful and dignified life in their own country," said Putin.

"I have mentioned many times that the current round of the crisis in Afghanistan is a direct consequence of irresponsible extraneous attempts to impose someone else’s values on the country and to build 'democratic structures' using socio-political engineering techniques, ignoring the historical and national specifics of other nations and the traditions by which they live," the Russian President added.

BRICS nations on Thursday underscored the priority of fighting terrorism, including preventing attempts by terrorist organisations to use Afghan territory as a terrorist sanctuary and to carry out attacks against other countries, as well as drug trade within Afghanistan.

The New Delhi Declaration, issued by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, at the 13th Leaders Summit chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in virtual mode, said: “We follow with concern the latest developments in Afghanistan.”

It called for "refraining from violence and settling the situation in Afghanistan by peaceful means."

“We stress the need to contribute to fostering an inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue so as to ensure stability, civil peace, law and order in the country," BRICS countries noted.

[With UNI inputs]