The Taliban-led Afghanistan government have expressed grave concerns about the Russian military operations unfolding in Ukraine.

In a public statement, the Taliban who forcefully took over Afghanistan last year, called for ‘restraint by both parties,” urging them “to desist from taking positions that could intensify violence.”

“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, in line with its foreign policy of neutrality, calls on both sides of the conflict to resolve the crisis through dialogue and peaceful means,” partly reads the statement.

It added that “The Islamic Emirate also calls on parties to the conflict to pay attention to safeguarding the lives of Afghan students and migrants in Ukraine.”

No fewer than 1,000 persons were killed when the Taliban forces recaptured Afghanistan in the last quarter of 2021.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, unleashing airstrikes and missiles on Ukrainian cities and military bases. Russian forces surrounded and invaded the European country from the east toward Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city; from the southern region of Crimea, and from Belarus to the north.

Mr Putin had warned against interference from world powers, threatening “consequences you have never seen.” 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, in an address, that 137 civilians and military personnel had been killed in the country on the first day of the Russian invasion. Mr Zelensky called them “heroes” adding that 316 people had been wounded.