DUSHANBE, September 19, 2009, Asia-Plus — Russia’s Envoy to NATO Dmitry Rogozin warns that premature withdrawal of NATO’s forces from Afghanistan would be a catastrophe for this country and the region as a whole, Afghanistan.ru reported on September 19.
“If NATO forces capitulate and flee Afghanistan, we, neighboring countries, will be faced with catastrophic development of affairs in this country,” Rogozin said in Brussels on September 18, according to Afghanistan.ru.
Russian envoy warned that under such the development of affairs, Taliban might spill into Central Asia and probably the Caucasus and “this will be a world headache.”
According to Rogozin, Russian could help NATO, but for this, Moscow should know the Alliance’s plans. “We will assist NATO, but we want to know about all their plans in Afghanistan,” Rogozin said, noting that the matter is of assistance with transit and training of Afghan personnel.
Besides, Russian NATO called on NATO to recognize the Collective Security Treaty Organization that groups Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. He expressed hope for speedy conclusion of cooperation agreement between CSTO and NATO.
We will recall that speaking at the opening ceremony of the CSTO military exercise in Dushanbe, Tajik Deputy Defense Minister Ramil Nadyrov said on September 17 that the escalation of fighting in Konduz and other Afghan provinces bordering Tajikistan may make the situation at the border more tense and provoke the Taliban to break through. “The exercise is important, considering the increased activity of Taliban gunmen in the regions of Afghanistan that border Tajikistan,” Nadyrov said.
