In the fight against Western sanctions, Russia and Afghanistan are abandoning the dollar in mutual settlements, switching to rubles and Afghanis, Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Dmitry Zhirnov said.

“Russia and Afghanistan are under unilateral illegitimate sanctions, and moving away from the dollar is one of the options. Although, Afghanistan still has to work on its currency conversion,” he said, TASS news agency reported.

Zhirnov noted that economic relations between Russia and Afghanistan, as well as the volume of trade between the countries are growing.

The diplomat also said that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has turned into Moscow’s ally in combating the threat of terrorism.

“The Taliban (IEA) certainly are our allies in the fight against terrorism. They are working to eradicate terrorist cells,” he said.

Zhirnov said that Russia will focus on its own interests in the matter of recognition and exclusion of the IEA from the list of prohibited organizations.

“The Taliban movement (IEA) is not on the list of terrorists in every country in the region. In any case, each state proceeds from its own motives and the specifics of its relations with Afghanistan,” the diplomat said.

He emphasized that Daesh is an enemy of the IEA, and the IEA is “pushing” it out.

“The security situation is changing. ISIS (Daesh) is the enemy of the Taliban (IEA), and they are pushing it out. They would probably put more pressure on them if the United States did not block Afghanistan’s national assets and suffocate the country with its sanctions. The government doesn’t have enough resources because of it,” the diplomat said.

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