Confusion reigns as Taliban who seized power in Afghanistan call for Russia, Ukraine 'restraint'

The Taliban, a militant organisation that seized control of Afghanistan last year, called on Friday for "restraint by both parties" in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"All sides need to desist from taking positions that could intensify violence," Afghanistan foreign ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said in the statement.

Kabul’s foreign policy emphasised "neutrality", Balkhi added.

The statement was met with puzzlement from observers, given the group's violent ousting of the Afghan government last August.

"You can’t make this up",  journalist Aditya Raj Kaul said of the Taliban's statement.

You can’t make this up. Taliban issues statement on Russia-Ukraine war. Taliban says they are monitoring situation closely and calls for restraint by both parties. “All parties need to desist from taking positions that could intensify violence”. Taliban calls for dialogue. pic.twitter.com/r2wOFH0sSf

— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) February 25, 2022

The Taliban’s words come as Russia has pounded Ukraine without relent since the early hours of Thursday.

Russian forces have already attacked several cities and regions and have reached the fringes of the capital, Kyiv.

There have been at least 137 casualties since Thursday, among them civilians, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday morning.

The US, Japan and the EU have imposed sanctions targeting Russia's financial, energy and transport sectors in response to the invasion.

The Taliban also called in its statement for Moscow and Kyiv to safeguard the lives of Afghan students and migrants currently in Ukraine.

With the Taliban has largely been ostracised by Western powers, Russia has had relatively warm relations with the hardline Islamist group, hosting the interim Taliban government at the Kremlin for an international conference following their takeover of Afghanistan.