- MOSCOW (IANS) - Afghanistan, in an unexpected turn of events, has said
it wants to revive military ties with Russia, which had increasingly found
itself sidelined in post-Taliban settlement process.
Afghan Defence Minister Mohammed Fahim, who is visiting Moscow, says his
country is keen to revive full military cooperation, including buying of
military hardware, with Russia.
"Rebuilding Afghanistan's military force with Russian cooperation
is the most optimal option for our country from economic as well as army
construction point of view," said Fahim.
Emphasising that the Afghan army was always built on the pattern of the
erstwhile Soviet army, Fahim said the current manning and managing of army
units in Afghanistan was being done according to Russian practices, and
the entire existing Afghan Army was equipped with Russian-made arms and
ammunition.
He said the Afghan Army faced an acute shortage of Russian military equipment,
Fahim said the Afghan delegation would conclude some agreements in Moscow
for procuring military equipment and spares.
The appearance of few Russians working under Russia's emergency ministry
in military fatigue in Kabul had triggered speculation in the international
media about the return of Russian forces to Afghanistan.
The Northern Alliance, led by Fahim, turned into a regular army with Russian
assistance and marched into Kabul on Russian tanks in the wake of Taliban
collapse in November 2001.
Fahim's statement to revive full-fledged defence cooperation with Russia
comes amid reports of a U.S. plan to rebuild the Afghan Army.
Foreign policy experts here draw attention to the fact that Fahim's trip
comes on the heels of Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov's visit to Afghanistan
last week, the first one by a top Russian leader in 14 years.
Fahim's tour to Russia is the first high-level visit by an Afghan minister
to this country, while important members of the interim Afghan government
including its head Hamid Karzai have been extensively travelling to Western
countries.
His sojourn to Moscow is also the first high-level visit by an Afghan leader
to Russia in 14 years.
Fahim, an ethnic Tajik, was in charge of intelligence under the Northern
Alliance led by Ahmed Shah Masood and took over the command after the legendary
general's assassination.
The Northern Alliance, backed by Russia, India and Iran, forms the backbone
of the interim Afghan government under Karzai, who is reportedly close
to Pakistan and the U.S.
Copyright © 2001 IANS India Private Limited. All rights Reserved.
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