India, Oct. 5 -- Russia on Monday hosted a new round of consultations on Afghanistan attended by representatives of the Taliban government, India, China, Iran, Pakistan and other countries.

Welcoming Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov congratulated him on what he described as the "fifth anniversary of Afghanistan's liberation from the NATO contingent."

"Five years is a short time to overcome the consequences of many decades of occupation, yet your government's achievements are evident, and we welcome them," Lavrov said.

Lavrov praised the Taliban's efforts to combat the Islamic State group and other extremist organisations, as well as its campaign against drug trafficking.

The ...