KABUL - NATO Urged Russia to play a constructive role in helping to stabilise Afghanistan.
meanwile Moscow plans to resume cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) on Afghanistan, a media report said on Tuesday, citing a Russian foreign ministry statement.
Sputnik quoted the director of the Second Asian Department at the ministry as saying Russia was willing to revive joint projects with NATOin Afghanistan after receiving positive signals from the Western alliance.
Separately, Russian media outlet RIA Novosti quoted a senior diplomat as saying Moscow had not yet seen practical steps from NATO, which viewed Afghanistan as a common issue for both sides.
“We have to somehow work together. Great, let us go back to the projects that we have previously discussed and which you, NATO, have suspended,” Zamir Kabulov was quoted as saying.
A hundred thousand Americans could not accomplish the taskin Afghanistan, he claimed, asking how an extra thousand would be able to handle it, Kabulov told RIA Novosti. Deploying a few thousand troops to Afghanistan would not help secure the country, he believed.
Last month, US President Barack Obama announced keeping a 8,400-strong troop presence in Afghanistan, arguing the security situation there “remains precarious” due to the Taliban threat.
At its latest summit in Warsaw in July, NATO heads of state and government reaffirmed a partnership with Russiabased on respect for international law and commitments would be of strategic value.
NATO relations with Russia and aspirations for partnership will be contingent on a constructive change in Russia’s actions that demonstrates compliance with international law and obligations, A NATO official said.
“Until then, we cannot return to business as usual. Therefore, all practical cooperation with Russia remained suspended, even though we keep main channels of political dialogue open.” source added.
Afghanistan’s lasting security is an issue of common concern for both NATO and Russia. NATO official said.
This explains why Afghanistan has featured in the agenda of both meetings of the NATO-Russia Council held this year. He added.
“We appreciate the remarkable job that the Afghan security forces continue to carry out; but we are equally aware that challenges remain,” the NATO official said.
That is why NATO remains committed for the long-term in Afghanistan, through our Resolute Support Mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan security forces dealing with their security threats and through support to their financial sustainment.
NATO Secretary General told a press conference after the meeting of the NATO-Russia Council on 13 July, “Our military operation in Afghanistan is our biggest military operation ever; the reason why we are in Afghanistan is to prevent this country from once again becoming a safe haven for international terrorists.”
“Good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation and support remain essential to Afghanistan’s security and stability. We will continue to support all initiatives in this regard which will help achieve this objective. Russia should also play a constructive role in helping to stabilise Afghanistan.” NATO official(Pajhwok)