Russia has decided not to evacuate its diplomats from Kabul, which includes Taliban fighters

Russia has refused to evacuate its embassy staff in the Afghan capital of Kabul, although the city is already coming under the control of the Taliban terrorist movement. Moscow’s decision informs RIA Novosti with reference to Zamir Kabulov, Director of the Second Asian Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

According to him, the diplomatic mission will continue to work as usual, as the Taliban guaranteed the embassy’s security. He also noted that this also applies to representations of other countries.

However, diplomats from other states do not trust the statements of the Taliban. For example, the United States is carrying out a large-scale evacuation of its citizens from Kabul, which is likely to affect diplomats as well. Armored jeeps of the US diplomatic mission were leaving the embassy area. A few hours later, American military helicopters began to land on the embassy grounds, transfers Interfax.

Officially, the US authorities did not confirm the beginning of the evacuation of the embassy personnel. But two US military sources told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that embassy officials had begun urgently burning classified documents.

Meanwhile, The New York Times, citing a high-ranking American source, wrote that US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad – the head of the American delegation to the peace talks in Doha with the Taliban – demanded that they not enter Kabul yet and wait until the evacuation of the Americans is completed. It affects over 10,000 US citizens, including natives of Afghanistan, as well as embassy officials, translators and other Afghans who have worked for the US administration. In response, representatives of the Taliban demanded that the United States stop air strikes against their formations.

Militants of the Taliban movement, recognized as terrorist, launched an offensive in Afghanistan after the announcement of the withdrawal of US troops from the region. By mid-August, they captured more than 80% of the country’s territory. On August 15, the Taliban began to occupy the outskirts of Kabul and infiltrate into the city. Acting Afghan Interior Minister Abdul Satar Mirzakwal said the authorities ready to surrender the capital without a fight, referring to the fact that this is done in the interests of the civilian population. Informed sources also said that negotiations with the Taliban had begun in the presidential palace, and that President Ashraf Ghani fold with my own credentials in the next hours.

Residents of Kabul, judging by the panic spread among them, also do not believe the statements of the Taliban that they will protect them and provide security. On Sunday in the capital formed huge plugs on the roads from vehicles of those who wish to leave the city. And the banks lost cash, as many ran to withdraw their savings from their accounts.