MOSCOW, July 1. /TASS/. The activity of the Taliban movement (outlawed in Russia) in Afghanistan may bring about a worsening of the humanitarian situation in the country, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a news briefing on Thursday.

"Soaring combat tensions in Afghanistan's provinces bordering on the Central Asian countries may entail a humanitarian crisis and an upsurge in the number of refugees in the region, which certainly makes us feel worried," she said.

In connection with this, Russia is calling upon both conflicting parties to swiftly terminate the hostilities and begin constructive peace talks. "Once again I should say it is essential to have this confirmed not only by words, but by real action," Zakharova said.

She recalled that the Taliban's representatives had declared they had no intention of aggravating relations with neighboring countries.

"Russia's own estimates confirm that the Taliban does not have such an intention," she concluded.