WASHINGTON, 18 August 2021, (TON): The US has reached out to Pakistan and half a dozen other countries it believes can influence the situation in Afghanistan, where the Taliban appear to be consolidating their hold after capturing Kabul.

The statement added  that the foreign ministers of Pakistan, China, Russia, India and Turkey and the foreign secretary of Britain were among the top diplomats the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with, his office announced in a statement. He also spoke with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's secretary general and European Union’s (EU) high representative.

Pakistan shares a 2,252-kilometre-long border with Afghanistan, while China shares a shorter but sensitive border along the Wakhan corridor — a narrow strip of territory in Afghanistan.

Russia does not share any border with Afghanistan but has built a close relationship with Afghan insurgents since the withdrawal of its troops from the war-torn country in 1989.

Turkey, too, has traditionally maintained good relations with Afghanistan and Britain has leverage there as well.