Russia warns US of relocating forces in Afghanistan

Russian presidential envoy to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov told the RIA news agency that Washington cannot and should not transform the withdrawal into the relocation of its military facilities to Central Asia.

"We have already sent such a signal to Washington at various levels. I hope it will be heard," Kabulov said.

He also urged the Afghan government and the Taliban to establish a coalition government, saying that "the final decision on the configuration and parameters of the future power structure should be made by Afghans themselves."

Regarding peace talks between the Taliban and Kabul, Kabulov said, “We do not rule out the convening of its next round in the near future.”

Peace talks between the Taliban and Kabul, facilitated by a US-Taliban deal in Doha last year, had made “very little progress” and were happening at a “very slow pace,” Abdullah Abdullah, head of Kabul’s High Council for National Reconciliation, told CNN on Thursday.

This week, the US military vacated Bagram Airfield, its biggest base in Afghanistan, advancing the final withdrawal that the Pentagon said will be completed by the end of August.

The Taliban accused Kabul of disinterest in the negotiations.

In a video statement obtained by CNN, Taliban political office spokesman Mohammad Naeem accuses Kabul’s negotiating team of being incompetent during the May peace talks in Doha.

In exchange for the US withdrawal, the Taliban have made a commitment to negotiating with the Afghan government. But they have so far refused to declare a ceasefire and, according to the Pentagon, managed to take control of 81 of Afghanistan’s 419 district centers this week.

While some observers say a full withdrawal of forces could intensify violence in the absence of a peace deal in Afghanistan, the Taliban said on Friday that this “will pave the way for Afghans to decide about their future between themselves.”

“Afghans can get closer to stability and peace with the full withdrawal of foreign forces,” said Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.

In a related development, China accused the US of being “the origin of problems in Afghanistan,” calling for a “stable transition” after the US completes its withdrawal.

“The US should be responsible for making sure the transition in the country will be stable,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a statement on Saturday

“The US cannot evade responsibility, and cannot cause instability or war by withdrawing troops," Wang added.

The Chinese diplomat also described the US as "the source" of some of the world’s worst ongoing conflicts, including in Afghanistan.

Wang also said China is “determined to support the peaceful transition in Afghanistan.”

In the meantime, hundreds of Taliban militants were killed in fighting with Afghan forces across the county, officials said Saturday.

More than 300 militants were killed, the Ministry of Defense told AFP. Scores were killed in a pre-dawn assault in the southern province of Helmand on Saturday, it said.

"In recent days, the Afghan air force has intensified its airstrikes against the Taliban hideouts,” Attaullah Afghan, a member of Helmand provincial council, told the news agency.

The Taliban, however, rejected Kabul’s claims.

Top US envoy to Kabul Ross Wilson accused the Taliban of “using violent propaganda and hate speech to intimidate, threaten & attack Afghans on social media.”

"Violence and terror cannot create peace,” he said on Twitter.

The US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 ended a Taliban regime, but the violence and militancy continue to ravage the country.