New Delhi

Russia’s refusal to attend the swearing of the Taliban government in Kabul on September 11 is believed to be the reason for the new regime not holding the ceremony on Saturday, as it was scheduled earlier.

Sources said Russia was taken aback by the Taliban’s decision to hold the swearing in of the new cabinet on the day of the 20th anniversary of the Al Qaeda pilot smashing airplanes into New York and Manhattan skyscrapers killing 2900 persons.

Russia that has been invited along with China, Pakistan, Iran, Qatar, Turkey for the swearing-in had told the Taliban that chosing September 11 was inappropriate and inhumane.

Russia’s refusal to attend may have comes as a dampener for Taliban. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said it was important for Moscow to understand the further steps by the current Afghan leadership since it did not know how the situation would unfold with regard to terrorist and drug-trafficking threats.

 According to the RIA news agency, the speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament said earlier this week that Russia would be represented at the inauguration by ambassador-level officials.

The Taliban has reportedly invited several countries, including Pakistan, China and Russia, to attend the ceremony of the new government formation in Afghanistan.

Notably, these three are among the very few countries still operating their embassies in the Central Asian country that has been taken over by the insurgents.