Xi, Putin show united front on Afghanistan

Chinese and Russian leaders discussed Afghanistan yesterday, Chinese state media said, but did not echo the G7's call for the Taliban to allow people to flee the country after Aug 31, as desperate crowds left behind by the withdrawal of US troops continue to fear for their safety.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged views on Afghanistan in a call yesterday, a day after leaders of the Group of Seven countries met to discuss the crisis.

In the call with Putin, Xi reiterated China's position of non-interference and of respecting Afghanistan's sovereignty and independence, China's People's Daily reported.

The report said Putin told Xi he shares China's positions and interests in Afghanistan and he is willing to work with China to "prevent foreign forces from interfering and destroying" Afghanistan.

Xi urged all parties in Afghanistan to build an open and inclusive political framework, implement moderate, stable policies and cut ties with all terrorist groups.

Putin said Russia also wants to work with China to fight terrorism and drugs smuggling and to prevent the security risks from "spilling out" of Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Russia began evacuating more than 500 people from Afghanistan yesterday while at the same time holding military exercises for its tank forces in neighbouring Tajikistan.

The US exit from Afghanistan is a security headache for Moscow, which sees Central Asia as part of its southern defensive flank and fears radical Islamism spreading into the region.

Russia is holding a month of military exercises in Tajikistan, a Moscow ally, and has reinforced its base there.