(MENAFN- Afghanistan Times) AT Monitoring Desk

KABUL: Russian Foreign Minister (FM) Sergey Lavrov in a
telephonic conversation with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani discussed the
settlement efforts in Syria and Afghanistan, TASS news agency reported. 

'The Russian and Qatari foreign ministers discussed in
detail a number of current issues of the Russian-Qatari agenda in furtherance
of the agreements reached earlier during talks between Russian President
Vladimir Putin and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani," the
Russian Foreign Ministry said. 

'They also exchange views on issues of promoting settlement
efforts in Afghanistan and Syria' it said.

Before this, Lavrov said that Russia is concerned about the
double standards demonstrated by the West toward the presence of Daesh in
Afghanistan, Middle East Monitor reported. 

'Undoubtedly, fight against terrorism should be free of
double standard,' he said. 

'There is alarming information… that some Western colleagues
have double standards in relation to this terrorist organisation banned by the
UN Security Council and try to use them to accomplish their unilateral
geopolitical tasks in Afghanistan,' Lavrov said at a press conference held
after talks with his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

Lavrov also commented on US President Donald Trump's call on
Russia and other regional powers, including India, to step up the fight against
Daesh in Afghanistan.

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