KABUL - Russia is trying to strengthen its economic involvement in Afghanistan on a bilateral basis, the Russian envoy to Afghanistan said on Monday.
In an exclusive interview with TOLOnews, Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Andrey Avetisyan said that Russia will never send troops to Afghanistan but will instead seek to expand its bilateral economic relations with the country.

"If you mean military involvement, the answer is a strong no because Russia has a very solid resolution never to send its troops to Afghanistan whatever the pretext. If you speak about economic involvement, then yes, that's what we are trying to promote and that is what we are doing on a bilateral basis," he said.

He also added that the the international forces should bring sustainable stability in Afghanistan before withdrawing and clarify the purpose of any future military presence in the country. "If the long-term military presence in Afghanistan is really necessary between Afghanistan and the US, I think all neighbors would like its aims and purposes to be transparent," the ambassador said.

"If its for fighting terrorism, then why is Isaf withdrawing? It doesn't seem realistic to me to win this war on terror with several thousand troops when it can't be achieved with hundred of thousands of troops," he said. Russia has always criticized the early withdrawal of Nato troops from Afghanistan, saying the country is still facing a major terrorism threat. (Tolo News)