Russia likely to expand control in Afghanistan, says senior diplomat

A senior Russian diplomat says that because America "completely failed" in Afghanistan, this has opened the way for Moscow to expand its clout in the country. Zamir Kabulov, President Vladimir Putin's envoy for Afghanistan, says many Afghans now view Russia as an impartial mediator that could help advance political process despite the Soviet war in Afghanistan.

Kabulov told The Associated Press in an interview on Wednesday that the US has "completely failed" in Afghanistan. He argued that it's in the US interests to withdraw its troops as quickly as possible and focus on financial assistance to the Afghan government to help the post-war recovery. Last week, a meeting in Moscow brought together Afghan former officials, opposition figures and the Taliban but sidelined President Ashraf Ghani's government.