MOSCOW, January 19. /TASS/. The interim government of the Taliban (outlawed in Russia) highly appreciates Russia's efforts to assist the Afghan people in building a peaceful and independent country, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday following a visit to Kabul by Special Presidential Representative for Afghanistan and Director of the Foreign Ministry’s Second Asian Department Zamir Kabulov.

"The leadership of Afghanistan commends the efforts of the Russian Federation to assist the Afghan people in building a peaceful, independent and economically self-sufficient state," the ministry said.

Kabulov also discussed bilateral trade, cultural and humanitarian relations with Afghan authorities. "The focus was on mutually beneficial cooperation on such tracks as energy, agriculture, transport, infrastructure, industry, mining, and in particular organizing regular commercial deliveries of Russian fuel and agricultural products to Afghan companies," the release said.

In addition, it was noted that Russia admits the participation of its economic operators in the construction and operation of the gas pipeline Turkmenistan - Afghanistan - Pakistan - India (TAPI) as the situation in Afghanistan stabilizes. "The restoration of major infrastructure projects built in Afghanistan during the Soviet era" is also possible as the situation stabilizes, the Foreign Ministry said.

The parties also discussed the prospects of international recognition of the current Afghan government, including the Russian Federation. "A mutual focus on ensuring stability and security in the entire region was stated," it added.

During the visit, Kabulov also met with Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, to discuss the situation in the country. "The Russian side once again focused the attention of high-ranking international functionaries on the need to expeditiously unfreeze the national assets of Kabul illegally held by Washington and its satellites," the Foreign Ministry summed up.