MOSCOW - NATO officials said Afghanistan severely needs regional cooperation for ensuring security and stability and Russia can play effective role alongside NATO in this regard.
Having good neighborhood relations and regional cooperation is imperative to restore peace and stability in Afghanistan, the NATO officials further said, adding we are committed to be alongside Russia and use any means to reach this goal.
In his recent visit to Russia, Mohammad Hanif Atmar, the Afghan National Security Advisor (NSA) asked the country to cooperate with Afghanistan in fighting terrorist groups, particularly IS group and also training of the Afghan air force.
Meanwhile, a Russian senior diplomat, Zamir Kabulov said, ‘Afghanistan has experienced more than three decades of war and political instability, as the radical extremist groups, particularly the Taliban and Daesh are still targeting the civilians somehow, therefore, Russia is ready to jointly work with NATO on rehabilitation of common projects in Afghanistan,’
Calling Russia’s role and support effective in peace negotiations, a number of experts said the Central Asian countries, such as Afghanistan has badly affected by terrorism, thus, Russia should cooperate with Afghanistan in fighting terrorism.
An MP, Mirdad Nejrabi said, ‘peace would never ensure, unless the regional countries willing to honestly cooperate with Afghanistan, and in fact, ensuring peace in Afghanistan directly links to stability in region and the world.’
Russia’s cooperation along with NATO can be very effective in annihilation of terrorist groups, particularly IS in Afghanistan, Nejrabi further said.
In their meeting with NSA Atmar, Russian officials have stressed that Moscow is ready to cooperate with Afghanistan in war on terror.
Expressing optimism on regional countries’ role for maintaining security and fighting terrorism in Afghanistan, a number of experts believe Moscow is concerned on influence of extremist groups in its borders, therefore, if the regional countries honestly cooperate with Afghanistan, we will soon witness a calm country.
A political expert, Atiqullah Amarkhil believes that currently, the Afghan security forces are facing international terrorism and the world superpowers, specially Russia has to sincerely cooperate with Afghanistan, because this is a regional war and doesn’t only belong to Afghanistan.
The regional countries can playimperative role in restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan and can jointly practically step up to uproot terrorist groups, Amarkhil further said, adding Afghanistan has always been victimized by terrorism and it is not capable enough to fight this global threat by its own.
Moscow is currently in talks with the government of Afghanistan regarding supplies and combat helicopters and other heavy weapons; it additionally recently shipped 10,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles and millions of rounds of ammunition to Afghanistan.
This is while that many countries have announced their readiness to cooperate with Afghanistan in fighting terrorism, but unfortunately, still ensuring security and peace is one of the Afghan people main demands. (Agencies)