Moscow Concerned Over Potential Failure of US to Withdraw Troops From Afghanistan by 1 May

DUSHANBE (Sputnik) - Russia is concerned over potential consequences of Washington's failure to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by the May 1 deadline, Russia's special representative for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, told Sputnik on Tuesday.

"We do not know yet what kind of consequences it will trigger, but we saw the preliminary reaction to Biden's statement, it was a stern warning that this is a direct violation of the Doha agreements ... with all the ensuing consequences," Kabulov said on the sidelines of The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process conference.

Russia should thoroughly study Biden's statement, the diplomat noted.

Last week, US President Joe Biden said at a press conference that Washington may not meet the 1 May deadline "in terms of tactical reasons". The Taliban movement declared readiness to start attacking foreign soldiers stationed in Afghanistan if the pullout is not completed by 1 May as envisioned in the Doha agreement.