Russian Security Council delegation recently visited Afghanistan to discuss trade, joint mineral development - Shoigu

MOSCOW. May 29 (Interfax) - A Russian delegation has discussed the development of bilateral cooperation during a recent visit to Afghanistan, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu said.

"For instance, a delegation of the Security Council has recently visited Afghanistan on the president's orders to discuss further steps, how and where to move next, with Afghan counterparts. Naturally, this concerns transport corridors, joint development of various sorts of minerals, expansion of trade, and agriculture," Shoigu said at a press briefing after the 13th international meeting of high representatives in charge of security issues.

Afghan affairs were also discussed at the security conference in Moscow, which was attended by an Afghan delegation for the first time, Shoigu said.

"A lot has been said here, including in the context of the recent decision of the Russian Supreme Court to suspend the designation of the Taliban as a terrorist organization, which leads to numerous next steps. There is also economic cooperation," he said.

Shoigu said at a meeting with Security Council secretaries from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states earlier on Thursday that the decision to suspend the ban on the activity of the Taliban movement, listed as a terrorist organization, would pave the way to a broader partnership with Kabul.

The Federal Security Service said on May 6 that the Supreme Court ruling suspending the ban on the Taliban activity in Russia had taken effect and respective amendments were made to the register of terrorist organizations.

The Russian Supreme Court upheld a motion from Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov on April 17 and suspended the ban on the activity of the Taliban movement, currently in control of Afghanistan, in Russia.