Putin says world must prevent ‘collapse’ of Afghanistan

SMA NEWS – MOSCOW

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday called on the global community to prevent the “collapse” of Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover.
“The Taliban movement control almost the entire territory of the country,” he told a televised press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the Kremlin.
“These are the realities and it is from these realities that we must proceed, preventing the collapse of the Afghan state,” he added.
Both leaders said Afghanistan figured prominently during the outgoing German leader’s final working visit to Russia.
Putin also criticized the “irresponsible policy” of imposing “outside values” on war-torn Afghanistan.
“You cannot impose standards of political life and behavior on other people from outside,” Putin said.
The Russian president also highlighted the importance of preventing “terrorists” from entering neighboring countries from Afghanistan, including “under the guise of refugees”.